title: Imported malaria in Scotland--an overview of surveillance, reporting and trends.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Imported malaria cases continue to occur and are often underreported. This study assessed reporting of malaria cases and their characteristics in Scotland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases were identified at the study sites of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. The number of cases identified in the period 2003-2008 was compared to surveillance databases from Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and the Malaria Reference Laboratory (MRL). Case characteristics were recorded and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 252 cases of malaria diagnosed and treated, an estimated 235 (93.3%) were reported to the MRL. Between 2006 and 2008, 114 of 126 cases (90.5%) were reported to HPS. Plasmodium falciparum caused 173 cases (68.7%). Business and professional travel accounted for 35.3% of cases (higher in Aberdeen), followed by visiting friends and relatives (33.1%) and holiday makers (25.5%). The majority of infections were imported from West Africa and 65.7% of patients for whom data on prophylaxis was available had taken no or inappropriate prophylaxis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reporting of malaria in Scotland can be improved. There is a continued need to optimise preventive measures and adherence to chemoprophylaxis amongst business travellers, those visiting friends and relatives, and holiday makers in endemic countries in order to reduce imported malaria cases.
authors: NHS Lothian, Regional Infectious Diseases Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK. hwunger@doctors.org.uk
authors: Holger W
authors: HW
authors: Unger
authors: Andrew D
authors: AD
authors: McCallum
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Ukachukwu
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: McGoldrick
authors: Kali
authors: K
authors: Perrow
authors: Gareth
authors: G
authors: Latin
authors: Gillian
authors: G
authors: Norrie
authors: Sheila
authors: S
authors: Morris
authors: Catherine C
authors: CC
authors: Smith
authors: Michael E
authors: ME
authors: Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D000368:Aged; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018563:Disease Notification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000145:classification; D011634:Public Health; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D014195:Travel; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials