Imported malaria treated in Melbourne, Australia: Epidemiology and clinical features in 246 patients

Abstract

Background: Imported malaria is increasing in nonendemic countries, including Australia. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology and clinical features of travelers with imported malaria presenting to a specialist infectious diseases hospital. Methods: A retrospective case series of 246 consecutively admitted inpatients with laboratory confirmed malaria. The main outcome measures were the proportion of patients infected with each malaria species, and relationship between species and country of birth, area of acquisition, adequacy of chemoprophylaxis, clinical features, laboratory investigations, and treatment. Results: Plasmodium vivax caused 182 (68.9%) episodes, Plasmod..