Pre-travel malaria chemoprophylaxis counselling in a public travel medicine clinic in São Paulo, Brazil.
Malaria is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in the world and represents a threat to travellers visiting endemic areas. Chemoprophylaxis is the prevention measure used in travel medicine, avoiding clinical manifestations and protecting against the development of severe disease and death.



Retrospective and descriptive analysis of malaria prevention data in travellers was recorded from a travel medicine clinic in São Paulo, Brazil, between January 2006 and December 2010. All the medical records of travellers, who had travelled to areas with risk of disease transmission, including Brazil, were analysed. Demographic characteristics of travellers, travel details and recommendations for preventing malaria were also seen.



During the study period, 2836 pre-travel consultations were carried out on 2744 individuals (92 were consulted twice). The most common reasons for travelling were tourism and work. The most common destinations were Africa (24.5%), Europe (21.2%), Asia (16.6%) and locations within Brazil (14.9%). In general prophylaxis against malaria was recommended in 10.3% of all the consultations. African destinations vs Asian, Brazilian and other destinations and length of stay ≤30 days were independently associated with the higher odds of chemoprophylaxis recommendation after the logistic regression.



The prophylaxis against malaria was recommended in 10.3% of the consultations. The authors believe that a coherent measure of malaria prevention in Brazil and for international travellers would be to recommend for all parts of the North Brazil, avoidance of mosquito bites and immediate consultation of a physician in case of fever during or after the journey is recommended.
Parasitology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute, Rodovia BR-316, Km 7 s/n, Levilândia, Ananindeua, PA, 67030-300, Brazil. tania.chaves@uol.com.br.|Travel Medicine Division, Emilio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases, Av. Doutor Arnaldo 165, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, 01246-900, Brazil. tania.chaves@uol.com.br.|Disciplina de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Generalíssimo Deodoro, 01 - Umarizal, Belém, PA, 66050-160, Brazil. tania.chaves@uol.com.br.
Tânia do Socorro Souza
TD
Chaves
Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil.|Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil.
Wuelton Marcelo
WM
Monteiro
Travel Medicine Division, Emilio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases, Av. Doutor Arnaldo 165, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, 01246-900, Brazil.
Jessé Reis
JR
Alves
Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil.|Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane (Fiocruz-Amazônia), Manaus, Brazil.
Marcus
M
Lacerda
Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 455, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, 01246-903, Brazil.
Marta Heloisa
MH
Lopes
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001938:Brazil; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014195:Travel; D057236:Travel Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
Malaria chemoprophylaxis; Malaria prevention; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Travel medicine