Imported malaria in Qatar: a one year hospital-based study in 2005

A study was conducted to describe the clinical presentation, epidemiology and outcome of imported malaria in patients admitted to Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar, between 1st January and 31st December 2005. During a one-year study, 81 patients [64 (79%) males and 17 (21%) females] were studied. The median age was 26 years. Most infections were caused by Plasmodium vivax, and Pakistan was the most common area of malaria acquisition. The median times between last arrival in Qatar and the onset of symptoms with Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax and mixed infections were 14, 28 and 17 days respectively. The median times between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of P. falciparum, P. vivax and mixed infections were 3, 3 and 3.5 days respectively. The predominant symptoms were fever and chill in all patients. High bilirubin and thrombocytopenia were found in 51 (63%) and 47 (58%) of the patients respectively. None had been taking chemoprophylaxis against malaria infection. Six patients had severe falciparum malaria, which was more prevalent among Qatari than non-Qatari patients (p=0.02). No deaths occurred during the study period. The median time of stay in hospital was 3 days; it was longer in patients with P. falciparum infection than in patients with P. vivax (p=0.02). In conclusion, P. vivax is the most common cause of imported malaria, with the majority acquired from the Indian subcontinent. Only a few patients presented with severe malaria. Increased efforts are needed to educate travelers about the need for prophylaxis and other measures.