[Falciparum malaria in Oslo and Akerhus].
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%.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Rønning
E J
EJ
Infeksjonsmedisinsk avdeling Ullevål sykehus, Oslo.
Myrvang
B
B
Jensenius
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014195:Travel
D000962:Antimalarials