title: [Clinical presentation and complications of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in two populations: travelers and immigrants].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plasmodium falciparum malaria is the most aggressive form of this disease, with 90% of cases occurring in Africa. Only natives of malaria-endemic areas can acquire a certain degree of immunity to the disease. It is not known whether immunity is lost when contact with the parasite is discontinued.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of cases of falciparum malaria imported from Africa, performed in Hospital Clinic, Barcelona (Spain), from 1999 to 2005. Clinical, epidemiological and laboratory parameters were compared between travelers and African immigrants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 187 patients, 85 were immigrants from an endemic area who had been living in a non-endemic area for more than 5 years. These patients presented fewer complications than travelers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data may point to a certain persistence of immunity in previously semi-immune persons who migrate to non-endemic areas.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Medicina Tropical, Centro de Salud Internacional, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. Elisasal@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salvadó
authors.forename: María Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pinazo
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Naniche
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayor
authors.forename: Llorenç
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quintó
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gascón
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014195:Travel