Nine years of imported malaria in a teaching hospital in Belgium: Demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes

摘要

Background: Imported malaria is often misdiagnosed due to the aspecific symptoms and lack of familiarity among clinicians. This study aims to evaluate a decade-long trend of imported malaria cases in a Belgian teaching hospital by analyzing demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes. Methods: Medical records of 223 patients with confirmed malaria diagnoses between 2010 and 2019 were analyzed. Results: Most patients were male (63.2), aged 18-65 years (77.1), and visiting friends or relatives (40.8). Central Africa was the most common travel destination (54.3), and 63.7 did not take prophylaxis. Symptoms were flu-like, with fever (91.9) being most prevalent. P. falciparum was identified in 88.3 of cases. A high proportion of severe cases (41.7) and a low mortality rate (0.9) were recorded. A severe form of the disease is associated with a more extended hospital stay than uncomplicated form (median of 5 vs. 4 days, p < 0.001). Thirty-five-point five percent 33/93 of patients with severe malaria have had a previous malaria infection compared to 50.8 66/130 of uncomplicated patients (p= 0.013) wich was statistically significant. Conclusion: Malaria disproportionately affects VFRs traveling to Central Africa, and flu-like symptoms should raise suspicion. Prophylaxis is essential to prevent the disease, and early diagnosis is critical for effective management. A severe form of the disease is associated with a more extended hospital stay than uncomplicated form and people with a previous history of malaria have a less severe disease