[Imported malaria in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic]

Forty-three cases of imported vivax malaria were notified in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria in 1981-1997. These included 40 military men serving in Afghanistan, a citizen from this country, a student of the Kabardino-Balkaria State University, a student of a Nal'chik technological college, and a newcomer from Armenia. Among the patients, urban and rural residents were 27.9 and 72.1%, respectively. 37.2% were detected in the season of effective mosquito infection; new cases of malaria were identified in 41.9%, relapses were found in 58.1% of patients. Analyzing the reasons of late diagnosis of imported malaria suggests that the patients visited health facilities too late due to their poor awareness of a risk for malaria. Out of 43 patients, 62.8% referred to in the first 3 days after the onset, 18.6, 9.3, 9.3, and 2.3% did on days 4-6, 7-15, 16, and after a month, respectively. Their physicians made diagnostic errors in 53% of cases. Acute respiratory disease, influenza, pneumonia, and hepatitis were most commonly diagnosed. They were found in 27.9, 11.6, 4.7, and 4.7%, respectively.