Imported malaria in children: a comparative study between recent immigrants and immigrant travelers (VFRs).
BACKGROUND
In Europe, imported malarial cases occur in returning travelers and immigrants mostly from African countries. There have been an increasing number of cases in the past years in Spain.


METHODS
An analysis of all cases of malaria who attended at the Hospital of Mostoles in the Southwest of Madrid from 1995 to 2007 was performed. Clinical, epidemiological, laboratory, and parasitological findings were analyzed and compared between immigrants coming from endemic countries (recent immigrants) and children who traveled to endemic areas to visit friends and relatives (VFRs).


RESULTS
Sixty cases of imported malaria were detected. Most of the cases (59 of 60) were acquired in sub-Saharan Africa. The most common species was Plasmodium falciparum (43 of 60). Microscopic examination was positive in 95%, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Plasmodium achieved additional diagnosis in seven cases. Fourteen cases were VFRs; none of them used appropriate malaria chemoprophylaxis. Fever and thrombocytopenia were significantly more common among VFRs. They also had significantly higher parasite density. Twelve cases were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis; all of them were recent immigrants.


CONCLUSIONS
VFRs account for a significant number of childhood malarial cases. These patients had not taken malaria chemoprophylaxis and malarial cases were more severe. VFR children are a high-risk group, and pretravel advice should underline the risk for malaria. Recent immigrants can be asymptomatic and parasitemias are lower. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is necessary, and PCR for Plasmodium should be performed in case of negative thick smears.
Arnáez
Juan
J
Department of Pediatrics, Mostoles Hospital, Madrid, Spain. jusoru@hotmail.com
Roa
Miguel A
MA
Albert
Leticia
L
Cogollos
Rosario
R
Rubio
Jose M
JM
Villares
Rebeca
R
Alarabe
Abdulkareem
A
Cervera
Aurea
A
López-Vélez
Rogelio
R
D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014195:Travel