title: [Malaria in expatriates in Africa. 154 cases. Clinical problems and therapeutic difficulties].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malaria is a major health priority. The aim of this study was to describe clinical expression, laboratory findings and therapeutic aspects of Plasmodium falciparum malaria observed in a French military population stationed in Gabon.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-four cases of P. falciparum malaria were observed between July 1, 1994 and February 29, 1996. In 145 cases malarial fever predominated and in 9 others further complications occurred. Mean age of the patients was 23.7 years and mean delay to consultation was 30 hours. Seventy-two percent of the patients stated they took prophylaxis (chloroquine-proguanil) regularly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain generally accompanied the episodes of fever. There were 21 atypical cases. Parasitemia was < 25000 HPM in 70% of the cases. Blood counts showed leukopenia, lymphopenia, and thombopenia. Plasma cholesterol was low and lactic acid dehydrogenase levels were elevated. Halofantrine was used for curative treatment (2 doses with a 7 day interval) in 145 cases. Intravenous quinine was used in 9 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This series demonstrates the importance of malarial morbidity in French military men stationed in Africa and confirmed the performance of the acridine orange test. It also emphasized the importance of indirect laboratory findings for early diagnosis of malaria in foreigners living in Africa. A new dosage of halofantrine is proposed for the second injection due to cardiac toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Service médical de Gamison, Libreville.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gorge
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Perret
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Touze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000208:ethnology; D005681:Gabon; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011803:Quinine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014171:Transients and Migrants
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D011803:Quinine; C023768:halofantrine
vernacular_title: Paludisme chez les expatriés en Afrique. 154 observations. Problèmes cliniques et difficultés thérapeutiques.