Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

"Dong Sik Jung"

Brief Communication

Imported Malaria in Korea: a 13-Year Experience in a Single Center: Hae Suk Cheong, 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; Korean J Parasitol 2009;47(3):299-302.
Published online August 28, 2009; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2009.47.3.299

Abstract
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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.

Citations

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