title: Malaria in inner London.
abstract: This retrospective analysis was performed to describe the malarial cases treated in an inner London hospital during a single year (1996). A total of 44 case records were available for review, 40 (90.9%) were due to Plasmodium falciparum. Thirty-seven patients were admitted to hospital, there were no deaths. Only two (4.5%) patients had taken adequate malarial prophylaxis. A total of 119 inpatient bed-days were utilized in the treatment of malaria in 1 year. In 75 (63%) of these bed-days, observation was the only reason for continued inpatient treatment. The commonest laboratory findings are mild elevation of serum bilirubin to a mean of 28 micromol/l, and a low platelet count to a mean of 124x10(12)/l. A bilirubin greater than 20 micromol/l was found in 72.9% of patients (95% CI; 58.7-87.3%). The platelet count was less than 150x10(12)/l in 77.3% of patients (95%, CI; 64.9-89.7%). We found that malaria is not uncommon in inner London. Whilst most cases are admitted few complications are usually seen. Many cases may well be able to be treated with a brief hospital admission, possibly to an accident and emergency observation ward.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leman
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials