Malaria: control strategies, chemoprophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment.
Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum continues to be the principal medical threat to travelers in tropical zones. Eighty percent of malaria cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Prevention capacity nears 100%. In the event of infection, early diagnosis and bitherapy (treatment that includes two different active molecules) provide a nonfatal outcome. The greatest risk occurs in the weeks after returning home. The history of malaria has shown that it is important to anticipate the evolving nature of the disease and to be able to respond to it in a timely fashion. The efficiency of preventive treatments should lead toward the goal of zero malaria cases when dealing with travelers; however, virtually all empiric experience indicates that this goal rarely is reached.
Le Mire
Jacques
J
COTCO, Cameroon Oil Transportation Company A.A., BP3738 Douala, Cameroon. jacques.lemire@internationalsos.com
Arnulf
Laurent
L
Guibert
Philippe
P
D000818:Animals; D018890:Chemoprevention; D009033:Culicidae / Q000469:parasitology; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007302:Insect Repellents; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D012307:Risk Factors; D014195:Travel
D007302:Insect Repellents