[Pediatric imported malaria. Experience of the hospital center of Versailles (1997-2001)]

Abstract

Few data are available about pediatric imported malaria, whereas the number of cases seems in constant increase.

Patients and methods: all pediatric malaria cases diagnosed by a positive thin or thick blood film at the Versailles Hospital, from January 1997 to December 2001, were studied retrospectively.

Results: sixty cases of pediatric imported malaria were studied. They were 58 cases of uncomplicated malaria and 2 cases of severe malaria; 85% of the children had travelled to sub-Saharan Africa and 15% to Oceania; 90% of the children were of African origin. Plasmodium falciparum was found alone in 84% of the cases. The anti-malarial chemoprophylaxis was inappropriate in 92% of the cases. No child had profited from preventive measures against mosquitos. Fever > 37,5 degrees C was observed in 100% of the cases. The other clinical signs were present in less than 50% of the cases. The median of haemoglobin and platelet was 10.5 g/dL and 141,000/mm(3), respectively. After treatment, the evolution was good in all the cases, without relapse or any consequences.

Discussion/conclusion: our study, in agreement with the national data, confirms the increase in the number of case of pediatric imported malaria, and underlines the mediocrity of the prevention, in particular in term of anti-malarial chemo-prophylaxis. These data, in a context of regular increase of international travels to endemic areas, suggest the necessity to improve the information of the general public, and the urgency of a better staff training of health care workers concerning malaria, in order to improve the prevention and the treatment of this potentially fatal disease.