Hülya ÇAŞKURLU, Emine PAKIR, Aslıhan ÇOLAK

Evaluation of malaria cases in individuals after traveling to endemic regions of the world

This study evaluates types of malaria and treatment success in a series of identified cases among individuals who were presumed to have travelled to regions where malaria is endemic. Materials and methods: In Sema Hospital, 25 cases of malaria (5 in women, 20 in men) were diagnosed during the 6-year period between 2006 and 2012. The mean age of the patients was 34.5 years. Diagnoses were established with thick and thin peripheral blood smears that were parasite-positive. These tests were then compared to the rapid diagnostic test based on Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2. Results: All cases demonstrated fever beginning with chills. Three patients had prophylaxis with doxycycline, but all stopped the prophylaxis early of their own volition. P. falciparum was the parasitic agent in all cases. A regimen of artemisinin and lumefantrine was administered in 18 of the 25 cases; quinine plus doxycycline was given in 3, and chloroquine was administered in the remaining 4. Usage of these regimens cured all cases of malaria without complications. Conclusion: The importance of prophylaxis of malaria was demonstrated. Malaria should also be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with fever that have a history of travel to endemic regions.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Key words: Plasmodium falciparum, chemoprophylaxis, rapid tests

Evaluation of malaria cases in individuals after traveling to endemic regions of the world

Keywords:

Key words: Plasmodium falciparum, chemoprophylaxis, rapid tests,

PDF

___

Özbilgin A, Topluoglu S, Es S, Islek E, Mollahaliloglu S, Erkoc Y. Malaria in Turkey Successful control and strategies for achieving elimination. Acta Tropica 2011; 120: 15–23.
WHO. World Malaria Report: 2011. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2011.
Özbilgin A, Tamay AT. Sıtma tanısında yenilikler. ANKEM Derg 2000; 14: 260–5 (article in Turkish).
Mert A, Tabak F, Özaras R, Öztürk R, Aktuğu Y. Malaria: a review of 33 cases. Flora 2001; 6: 118–25 (article in Turkish with an abstract in English).
İnan A, Erdem İ, Engin OD, Hitit G, Ceran N, Senbayrak S, Özyürek SÇ, Karagül E, Göktaş P. Malaria: an evaluation of 40 cases. Türkiye Parazitol Derg 2010; 34: 147–51 (article in Turkish with an abstract in English).
Ser O, Çetin. Antalya ilinde 2001 ile 2011 yılları arasındaki sıtma vakalarının değerlendirilmesi. Türkiye Parazitol Derg 2012; 36: 4–8 (article in Turkish).
Mandell GI, Bennett JE, Dolin R. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA, USA: Elsevier; 2005. pp. 3121–38.