Malaria remains a military medical problem.
OBJECTIVE
To bring military medical problems concerning malaria to the attention of the Defence Medical Services.


METHODS
Seven military medical problems related to malaria are illustrated by cases referred for secondary assessment over the past five years. Each is discussed in relation to published data.


RESULTS
The cases of failure of various kinds of chemoprophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of malaria may represent just a fraction of the magnitude of the overall problem but in the absence of reliable published military medical statistics concerning malaria cases, the situation is unclear.


CONCLUSIONS
Present experience suggests there are a number of persisting problems affecting the military population in relation to malaria. Only publication of reliable statistics will define their magnitude. Interim remedies are proposed whose cost-effectiveness remains to be established.
World
M J
MJ
Royal Defence Medical College, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2AB. DrMikeWorld@cs.com
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053626:Atovaquone; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002727:Proguanil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012807:Sierra Leone / Q000453:epidemiology; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000208:ethnology
D000962:Antimalarials; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009285:Naphthoquinones; C109496:atovaquone, proguanil drug combination; D002738:Chloroquine; D002727:Proguanil; D015767:Mefloquine; D053626:Atovaquone