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Malaria in S ydney, A ustralia: Lessons learned from case management
Author(s) -
Thompson Kelly A,
Marais Ben J,
Kesson Alison,
Isaacs David
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12870
Subject(s) - medicine , malaria , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , immunology , biology
Aim To evaluate the clinical presentation and profile of malaria cases diagnosed at a tertiary children's hospital in A ustralia Methods A retrospective file review of children diagnosed with malaria at the C hildren's H ospital W estmead from 1 J anuary 2000 to 31 D ecember 2010. Results During the 11‐year study period, 40 children were diagnosed with malaria; 30 (75%) presented with fever; 14 (35%) complained of nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain; and eight (20%) were completely asymptomatic. The median time between arrival in A ustralia and malaria diagnosis was 32 (range 4–434) days. Sixteen (40%) were refugees from sub‐ S aharan A frica, six (15%) were immigrants from S outh‐ E ast A sia, and seven (18%) recently travelled to or visited friends and family in malaria‐endemic areas. Most (68%) cases had P lasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax was identified in four cases with exposures in I ndia and P apua N ew G uinea; one had mixed P . falciparum and P . vivax infection. Conclusion Malaria signs and symptoms were non‐specific, with an absence of fever in a quarter of cases. Diagnostic vigilance is required in all children with potential malaria exposure in the preceding year. Asymptomatic parasitaemia should be considered in recent migrants from malaria‐endemic areas.