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Biomédica
versión impresa ISSN 0120-4157versión On-line ISSN 2590-7379
Resumen
PASCUA-SANTAMARIA, Ana Elena et al. Imported malaria in children in Alicante, Spain (1994-2019). Biomed. [online]. 2022, vol.42, n.2, pp.244-252. Epub 01-Jun-2022. ISSN 0120-4157. https://doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.6068.
Introduction:
In recent years there has been an increase in imported malaria among children in whom it is a potentially serious and fatal disease.
Objective:
To describe the incidence and the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of malaria in children diagnosed in Alicante, Spain, over a 26-year period.
Materials and methods:
We conducted an observational retrospective study of malaria in children aged under 15 years diagnosed at the Alicante General University Hospital from 1994 to 2019.
Results:
Twenty-four cases were registered over the study period. The frequency of cases increased from 2 over the first five years to 11 in the last five years. The median age of the children was 6 years (interquartile range: 3-8); 91.6% came from sub-Saharan Africa. Over half (n=15, 62.5%) were children born in Spain to immigrant parents visiting friends and relatives (VFR); just one (6.7%) had received antimalarial chemoprophylaxis.
The most frequent clinical signs were fever (86.9%), hepatosplenomegaly (70.8%), and anemia (70.8%). Plasmodium falciparum was the most frequently identified species (83.3%, n=20). The most common treatment was oral piperaquine/dihydroartemisinin (41.6%, n=10) with favorable outcomes in all cases.
Conclusions:
Imported childhood malaria shows an increasing incidence and a nonspecific clinical presentation. Professional awareness of this disease and a high degree of clinical suspicion are needed for the early initiation of treatment. Pre-travel preventive measures should be promoted when appropriate.
Palabras clave : Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum; child; Spain.