What is the likely preliminary diagnosis for a businessman with periodic high fever following a trip to Haiti?

The preliminary diagnosis of malaria is highly plausible for a businessman who has experienced periodic high fevers after traveling to Haiti. Malaria is endemic in many tropical regions, including parts of Haiti, and is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

The characteristic symptomatology of malaria includes cyclical fevers that align with the life cycle of the malaria parasite within the bloodstream, often presenting as episodes of chills, high fever, and sweating. These symptoms can occur intermittently and are more likely to arise in individuals who travel to areas where malaria is prevalent, particularly if they have not taken appropriate prophylactic measures.

While Chagas disease, giardiasis, and syphilis could present with various symptoms, they are less consistent with the specific presentation of periodic high fever linked to the recent travel history in a malaria-endemic region. Chagas disease is primarily associated with chronic symptoms and typically transmitted by triatomine bugs, not mosquitoes. Giardiasis usually leads to gastrointestinal symptoms rather than fevers, and while syphilis can cause a variety of systemic symptoms, it doesn’t typically result in high periodic fevers related to travel.

Given these considerations, malaria stands out as the most likely diagnosis based on the fever pattern