MALARIA: THE FORGOTTEN THREAT. A CASE STUDY OF PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND HEPATOLOGY AT THE POMERANIAN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY SZCZECIN

Malaria remains a major health issue In the world, while in Poland no cases of the in - digenous disease have been observed since 60-ties of the last century, but the number of cases imported from the epidemic areas is increasing. The aim of work was to analyse the epidemiol - ogy of malaria diagnosed and treated in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland from 1.02.2010 until 31.01.2011. In total 11 cases were found, all diagnoses based on the thick and thin blood smear microscopy, along - side to the standard laboratory analyses. All clinical data presented are based on the case history. Results: Majoriry of cases reported travel to Sub-Saharan Africa (45%) or Indian subcontinent (27%). The travel was usually for recreational purposes, with significant proportion (45%) of patient not taking the malaria prophylaxis. Clinical course of infections was largely mild, with dominance of Pl. Falciparum parasitaemia. Fever was the most common clinical symptom (90%), while in the routine laboratory test no significant abnormalities, suggesting the disease, were found. Conclusions: malaria should be suspected in every case of the returning traveler with fever, especially if the travel was to the endemic area. The exclusion of the disease cannot be based on routine laboratory tests or quick immunoassays - thick and thin blood smear microscopy must be performed.