RESUMEN
An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 cases of imported malaria are annually diagnosed in industrialised countries. Some 700 of them concern Swiss travellers and foreign guests. Exposure prophylaxis and chemoprophylaxis for high risk destinations lower the risk of malarial disease. The latter is defined as regular intake of antimalarial drugs in subtherapeutic dosage in order to suppress the development of clinical disease. Drugs are usually taken from one week before travel until four weeks after return from an endemic area. Mefloquine, doxycycline, chloroquine plus proguanil, and presumably soon also atovaquone plus proguanil are available in Switzerland for chemoprophylaxis.
Asunto(s)
Antimaláricos/uso terapéutico , Malaria/prevención & control , Viaje , África/epidemiología , Asia/epidemiología , Atovacuona , Cloroquina/uso terapéutico , Contraindicaciones , Doxiciclina/uso terapéutico , Combinación de Medicamentos , Quimioterapia Combinada , Humanos , Malaria/epidemiología , Malaria Falciparum/prevención & control , Mefloquina/uso terapéutico , Naftoquinonas/uso terapéutico , Guías de Práctica Clínica como Asunto , Proguanil/uso terapéutico , América del Sur/epidemiología , SuizaRESUMEN
Plasmodium falciparum is the predominant plasmodium species in Africa south of the Sahara to a proportion of 80% and more. Two thirds of all cases of malaria in Switzerland are imported from Africa. Accordingly, malignant malaria is more frequently diagnosed in Switzerland than tertian malaria. Malignant malaria usually presents atypically, e.g. as acute gastrointestinal disease or as shock. The lethality is high. The majority of Swiss travellers are not protected effectively against malaria. A group particularly at risk are tourists of 20--30 years of age. It is suggested that travel agencies, official bodies and the medical profession should intensify public information regarding the dangers and prevention of malaria.