Beatriz Soto Sánchez1, L M Prieto Tato2, S Guillén Martín2, E Pérez3, C Grasa4, S Valderrama5, I de Augusto6, M Sierra7, M García Ros8, I Aguado9, M García López Hortelano10. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: beasoto80@hotmail.com. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Madrid, Spain. 3. Hospital Principe de Asturias, Madrid, Spain. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain. 5. Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario de Móstoles, Madrid, Spain. 6. Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain. 7. Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain. 8. Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre, Madrid, Spain. 9. Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Severo Ochoa Leganés, Spain. 10. Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario La Paz-Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The majority of malaria cases diagnosed in Europe in the last few years have occurred in people living in non-endemic areas travelling back to their home country to visit friends and relatives (VFRs). Children account for 15-20% of imported malaria, with known higher risk of severe disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective multicentre study was conducted in 24 hospitals in Madrid (Spain) including patients under 16 years diagnosed with malaria (2007-2013). RESULTS: A total of 149 episodes in 147 children were reported. Plasmodium falciparum was the species most commonly isolated. Twenty-five patients developed severe malaria and there was one death related to malaria. VFR accounted for 45.8% of our children. Only 17 VFRs had received prophylaxis, and 4 of them taken appropriately. They presented more frequently with fever (98% vs. 69%), a longer time with fever (55 vs. 26%), delay in diagnosis of more than three days (62 vs. 37%), and more thrombocytopenia (65 vs. 33%) than non-VFRs, and with significant differences (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: VFRs represent a large proportion of imported malaria cases in our study. They seldom took adequate prophylaxis, and delayed the visit to the physician, increasing the length of fever and subsequent delaying in diagnosis. Appropriate preventive measures, such as education and pre-travel advices should be taken in this population.
BACKGROUND: The majority of malaria cases diagnosed in Europe in the last few years have occurred in people living in non-endemic areas travelling back to their home country to visit friends and relatives (VFRs). Children account for 15-20% of imported malaria, with known higher risk of severe disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective multicentre study was conducted in 24 hospitals in Madrid (Spain) including patients under 16 years diagnosed with malaria (2007-2013). RESULTS: A total of 149 episodes in 147 children were reported. Plasmodium falciparum was the species most commonly isolated. Twenty-five patients developed severe malaria and there was one death related to malaria. VFR accounted for 45.8% of our children. Only 17 VFRs had received prophylaxis, and 4 of them taken appropriately. They presented more frequently with fever (98% vs. 69%), a longer time with fever (55 vs. 26%), delay in diagnosis of more than three days (62 vs. 37%), and more thrombocytopenia (65 vs. 33%) than non-VFRs, and with significant differences (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: VFRs represent a large proportion of imported malaria cases in our study. They seldom took adequate prophylaxis, and delayed the visit to the physician, increasing the length of fever and subsequent delaying in diagnosis. Appropriate preventive measures, such as education and pre-travel advices should be taken in this population.
Authors: Ana Elena Pascua-Santamaría; Diego Torrús-Tendero; Gema Mira-Perceval; Paloma García-Galán; José Manuel Ramos-Rincón Journal: Biomedica Date: 2022-06-01 Impact factor: 1.173