Abstract
Aim: To evaluate epidemiologic and clinical features of the patients with malaria followed in our clinic, and to review current status of malaria in our country. Patients and methods: Epidemiologic, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic features of 33 patients with malaria (4 female, 29 male, mean age: 28 ± 11 years, range: 15–60) followed in our clinic between 1981 and 2000 were evaluated retrospectively. Malaria data of our country for 1926–2000 were obtained from Health Ministry. Results: Diagnosis was established by thin smears of blood preparations obtained in the febrile period in all cases. Plasmodium vivax was detected in 26 patients (25 domestic and one imported), and P. falciparum in seven (two domestic and five imported). Sixty-one percent of the patients had the prodromal symptoms of the disease and used various antibiotics. All cases demonstrated the typical pattern of fever with chills. Fever (100%), splenomegaly (91%), hepatomegaly (55%), anemia (70%), leukopenia (48%), thrombocytopenia (48%), a rise in sedimentation rate (100%), and abnormalities in hepatic enzymes (30%) were determined in the patients. Chloroquine+primaquine were given to all patients with P. vivax, chloroquin (for three) or mefloquin (for four) alone were given to the patients with P. falciparum. One patient with P. falciparum died soon after admission, all the remaining recovered. Data from Health Ministry revealed that the most common (∼100%) species in our country is P. vivax. Although an eradication program against malaria initiated in 1926 achieved success, it still remains as an important health problem. Conclusion: Every febrile patient with a history of travel to the regions where malaria is endemic (tropical regions for the world, southeast regions for our country) should raise the suspicion of malaria. Every country should fight against malaria and global cooperation is essential.
References
Krogstad DJ. Plasmodium species (malaria). In: Mandell GL, Bennett SE, Dolin R (eds), Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 5th ed. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone, 2000: 2817–2831.
Unat EK, Yücel A, Altas K, Samasti M. Plasmodium cinsi, türleri ve parazitlikleri. Unat EK, Yücel A, Altas K, Samasti M, editörler. Unat'in tip parazitolojisi. Besinci baski. Istanbul: Cerrahpaþa Tip Fakültesi Yayini, 1995; 623–664.
Mert A, Tabak F, Dumankar A, Aykaç I, Aktuglu Y. Sitma: 25 olgunun degerlendirilmesi. Klimik Derg 1996; 9: 82–86.
Wiest P, Opal SM, Romulo RL, Olds GR. Malaria in travelers in Rhode Island: A review of 26 cases. Am J Med 1991; 91: 30–36.
Froude JRL, Weiss LM, Tanowitz HB, Wittner M. Imported malaria in the Bronx: Review of 51 cases recorded from 1986 to 1991. Clin Infect Dis 1992; 15: 774–780.
Gordon S, Brennessel DJ, Goldstein JA, Rosner F. Malaria: A city hospital experience. Arch Intern Med 1988; 148: 1569–1571.
Oh HML, Kong PM, Snodgrass I. Imported malaria in a Singapore hospital: Clinical presentation and outcome. Int J Infect Dis 1999; 3(3): 136–139.
Wittes R. Clearing the air on malaria. Can Med Assoc J 1991; 144: 661–664.
Phillips-Howard PA, Radulowicz A, Mitchell J, Bradley DJ. Risk of malaria in British residents returning from malarious areas. Br Med J 1990; 300: 499–503.
Calleri G, Macor A, Leo G, Caramello P. Imported malaria in Italy: Epidemiologic and clinical studies. J Travel Med 1994; 1: 231–233.
Gilbert DN, Moellering RC, Sande MA (eds), The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy, 30th ed. Antimicrobial Therapy, Inc, PO Box 70, Hyde Park, VT 056 55 USA, 2000: 88–89.
White NJ. The treatment of malaria. N Engl J Med 1996; 335: 800–806.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mert, A., Ozaras, R., Tabak, F. et al. Malaria in Turkey: A review of 33 cases. Eur J Epidemiol 18, 579–582 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024648902848
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024648902848