[Falciparum malaria in Oslo and Akerhus].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Imported falciparum malaria in an increasingly frequent health problem in many areas in which it is not endemic. Complications are commonly seen, and reported case-fatality rates may exceed 3%.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The study is a medical chart-based retrospective study of all cases of falciparum malaria diagnosed in Oslo and Akershus counties, south-eastern Norway, 1988-1997.

RESULTS:

We identified 232 diagnosed cases; of these, records were available for 222 cases (95%). The incidence rate almost quadrupled during the study period. The two largest groups were immigrants visiting their country of origin (35%) and Norwegian tourists (29%). 95% of the cases were infected in Sub-Saharan Africa. There were no fatal cases, and only eight cases (3.6%) developed complicated falciparum malaria. In a statistical analysis, the following factors were found to be significantly associated with complicated disease: higher age, noncompliance to recommended chemoprophylaxis in assumed non-immune subjects, prolonged doctor's delay and prolonged diagnostic delay.

INTERPRETATION:

The study suggests that complications in imported falciparum malaria may largely be prevented by a high rate of chemoprophylaxis compliance in non-immune travellers and a high awareness of this possibility among physicians evaluating febrile travellers from endemic areas.

• Authors: E J Rønning, B Myrvang, M Jensenius
• Journal: Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke (Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen) Vol. 120 Issue 14 Pg. 1658-60 (May 30 2000) ISSN: 0029-2001 [Print] Norway
• Vernacular Title: Falciparummalaria i Oslo og Akershus.
• PMID: 10901077 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antimalarials

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Africa (ethnology)
• Antimalarials (administration & dosage)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Emigration and Immigration
• Female
• Humans
• Incidence
• Infant
• Malaria, Falciparum (diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Norway (epidemiology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Travel