Imported malaria in an area in southern Madrid, 2005-2008

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Spain, malaria cases are mostly due to migrants and travellers returning from endemic areas. The objective of this work was to describe the malaria cases diagnosed at the Severo Ochoa University Hospital (HUSO) in Leganés in the s...

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Main Authors: Rubio José M, Martínez-Mondéjar Belén, Zuza Inés, Rey Sonia, Merino Francisco J
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-10-01
Series:Malaria Journal
Online Access:http://www.malariajournal.com/content/9/1/290
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author Rubio José M
Martínez-Mondéjar Belén
Zuza Inés
Rey Sonia
Merino Francisco J
author_facet Rubio José M
Martínez-Mondéjar Belén
Zuza Inés
Rey Sonia
Merino Francisco J
author_sort Rubio José M
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Spain, malaria cases are mostly due to migrants and travellers returning from endemic areas. The objective of this work was to describe the malaria cases diagnosed at the Severo Ochoa University Hospital (HUSO) in Leganés in the south of the Madrid Region from 2005 to 2008.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Descriptive retrospective study performed at HUSO. Data sources are registries from the Microbiology Department and malaria cases notified to the Preventive Medicine Department. Analysed parameters were: administrative, demographical, related to the stay at the endemic country, clinical, microbiological diagnosis method, pregnancy, treatment and prophylaxis, co-infections, and days of hospital stay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty-seven patients diagnosed with malaria were studied. Case distribution per year was 13 in 2005, 15 in 2006, 15 in 2007 and 14 in 2008. Thirty-three patients were female (57.9%) and 24 male (42.1%). Mean age was 27.8 years. Most of the malaria cases were acquired in Nigeria (49.1%) and Equatorial Guinea (32.7%). 29.1% of the patients were immigrants who had arrived recently, and 61.8% acquired malaria when travelling to their countries of origin to visit friends and relatives (VFR). Majority of cases were diagnosed between June and September. Microscopy was positive in 39 cases (68.4%) immunochromatography in 42 (73.7%) and PCR in the 55 cases where performed. <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>was responsible for 94.7% of the cases. The more frequent symptoms were fever (77.2%), followed by headache and gastrointestinal symptoms (33.3%). Nine cases needed hospital admittance, a pregnant woman, three children, four VFR and an African tourist, but all evolved favourably. Chemoprophylaxis data was known from 55 patients. It was taken correctly in one case (1.8%), in five (9.1%) the prophylaxis was improper while the others 49 (89.1%) cases had not followed any anti-malarial prophylaxis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Children, pregnant women and the VFR have the highest risk to present severe malaria and to need hospital admittance. Another important risk factor for acquiring malaria is incorrect prophylaxis. The first place for malaria acquisition was Nigeria and the main species causing malaria was <it>P. falciparum.</it></p>
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spelling doaj.art-053a7282fd3d479b987c689a39aa8d7d2022-12-22T02:48:44ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752010-10-019129010.1186/1475-2875-9-290Imported malaria in an area in southern Madrid, 2005-2008Rubio José MMartínez-Mondéjar BelénZuza InésRey SoniaMerino Francisco J<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Spain, malaria cases are mostly due to migrants and travellers returning from endemic areas. The objective of this work was to describe the malaria cases diagnosed at the Severo Ochoa University Hospital (HUSO) in Leganés in the south of the Madrid Region from 2005 to 2008.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Descriptive retrospective study performed at HUSO. Data sources are registries from the Microbiology Department and malaria cases notified to the Preventive Medicine Department. Analysed parameters were: administrative, demographical, related to the stay at the endemic country, clinical, microbiological diagnosis method, pregnancy, treatment and prophylaxis, co-infections, and days of hospital stay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty-seven patients diagnosed with malaria were studied. Case distribution per year was 13 in 2005, 15 in 2006, 15 in 2007 and 14 in 2008. Thirty-three patients were female (57.9%) and 24 male (42.1%). Mean age was 27.8 years. Most of the malaria cases were acquired in Nigeria (49.1%) and Equatorial Guinea (32.7%). 29.1% of the patients were immigrants who had arrived recently, and 61.8% acquired malaria when travelling to their countries of origin to visit friends and relatives (VFR). Majority of cases were diagnosed between June and September. Microscopy was positive in 39 cases (68.4%) immunochromatography in 42 (73.7%) and PCR in the 55 cases where performed. <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>was responsible for 94.7% of the cases. The more frequent symptoms were fever (77.2%), followed by headache and gastrointestinal symptoms (33.3%). Nine cases needed hospital admittance, a pregnant woman, three children, four VFR and an African tourist, but all evolved favourably. Chemoprophylaxis data was known from 55 patients. It was taken correctly in one case (1.8%), in five (9.1%) the prophylaxis was improper while the others 49 (89.1%) cases had not followed any anti-malarial prophylaxis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Children, pregnant women and the VFR have the highest risk to present severe malaria and to need hospital admittance. Another important risk factor for acquiring malaria is incorrect prophylaxis. The first place for malaria acquisition was Nigeria and the main species causing malaria was <it>P. falciparum.</it></p>http://www.malariajournal.com/content/9/1/290
spellingShingle Rubio José M
Martínez-Mondéjar Belén
Zuza Inés
Rey Sonia
Merino Francisco J
Imported malaria in an area in southern Madrid, 2005-2008
Malaria Journal
title Imported malaria in an area in southern Madrid, 2005-2008
title_full Imported malaria in an area in southern Madrid, 2005-2008
title_fullStr Imported malaria in an area in southern Madrid, 2005-2008
title_full_unstemmed Imported malaria in an area in southern Madrid, 2005-2008
title_short Imported malaria in an area in southern Madrid, 2005-2008
title_sort imported malaria in an area in southern madrid 2005 2008
url http://www.malariajournal.com/content/9/1/290
work_keys_str_mv AT rubiojosem importedmalariainanareainsouthernmadrid20052008
AT martinezmondejarbelen importedmalariainanareainsouthernmadrid20052008
AT zuzaines importedmalariainanareainsouthernmadrid20052008
AT reysonia importedmalariainanareainsouthernmadrid20052008
AT merinofranciscoj importedmalariainanareainsouthernmadrid20052008