Imported malaria: six cases of severe Plasmodium falciparum infection in Innsbruck, Austria, within a period of five weeks (February/March 1999)
Bellmann, R.; Sturm, W.; Pechlaner, C.; Weiss, G.; Bellmann-Weiler, R.; Wiedermann, C.J.; Patsch, J.R.
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift 112(10): 453-458
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-5325 PMID: 10890138 Document Number: 525836
Six patients (aged 30-76 years; 3 male and 3 female) with severe malaria tropica (Plasmodium falciparum) were admitted to the Innsbruck University Hospital, Austria, within a time period of 5 weeks. All patients had recently visited malaria endemic regions some days before admission: 5 had been to sub-Saharan Africa and one to Thailand and Vietnam. All 6 patients had to be treated in the intensive care unit. Three patients developed an acute respiratory distress syndrome. Two patients died of multi-organ failure. All 6 patients were treated with quinine and doxycycline intravenously. In one case, exchange transfusion was performed. Only 2 of 6 patients had taken prophylactic medication: chloroquine and proguanil in one case, and mefloquine in the other (the patient suffered from a severe gastroenteritis during her journey).