Imported Malaria in Korea: a 13-Year Experience in a Single Center.
10.3347/kjp.2009.47.3.299
- Author:
Hae Suk CHEONG
1
;
Ki Tae KWON
;
Ji Young RHEE
;
Seong Yeol RYU
;
Dong Sik JUNG
;
Sang Taek HEO
;
Sang Yop SHIN
;
Doo Ryun CHUNG
;
Kyong Ran PECK
;
Jae Hoon SONG
Author Information
1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Konkuk University Hospital, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 143-779, Korea.
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords:
Plasmodium;
imported malaria;
adverse drug events;
mefloquine;
quinine
- MeSH:
Adult;
Animals;
Antimalarials/adverse effects/therapeutic use;
Female;
Humans;
Korea/epidemiology;
Malaria, Falciparum/drug therapy/epidemiology/*parasitology;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects/isolation & purification;
Retrospective Studies;
*Travel
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2009;47(3):299-302
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The incidence of imported malaria has been increasing in Korea. We reviewed data retrospectively to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcomes of imported malaria from 1995 to 2007 in a university hospital. All patients diagnosed with imported malaria were included. Imported malaria was defined as a positive smear for malaria that was acquired in a foreign country. A total of 49 patients (mean age, 35.7 year; M : F = 38 : 11) were enrolled. The predominant malarial species was Plasmodium falciparum (73.5%), and the most frequent area of acquisition was Africa (55.1%), followed by Southeast Asia (22.4%) and South Asia (18.4%). Fourteen-patients (30.6%) suffered from severe malaria caused by P. falciparum and 1 patient (2.0%) died of multiorgan failure. Most of the patients were treated with mefloquine (79.2%) or quinine (10.2%); other antimalarial agents had to be given in 13.2% treated with mefloquine and 44.4% with quinine due to adverse drug events (ADEs). P. falciparum was the most common cause of imported malaria, with the majority of cases acquired from Africa, and a significant number of patients had severe malaria. Alternative antimalarial agents with lower rates of ADEs might be considered for effective treatment instead of mefloquine and quinine.
