Introducción. El aumento de los viajes internacionales y del número de inmigrantes de zonas donde la malaria es endémica hace que esta infección cada vez sea más frecuente en nuestro medio. El objetivo de este estudio es la descripción de una cohorte de pacientes ingresados por malaria: características epidemiológicas, clínicas y microbiológicas, quimioprofilaxis recibida y tratamiento antipalúdico prescrito.
Métodos. Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de los pacientes ingresados por malaria entre enero de 1998 y diciembre de2010 en el Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (Murcia).
Resultados. Ingresaron 51 casos de malaria; 78,3% eran inmigrantes, de los cuales el 65% residía en España y viajaron a sus países de origen para estancias cortas. El 74,5% adquirieron la infección en África central y occidental, y Plasmodium falciparum fue identificado en la mayoría de los casos (88%). Sólo 4 pacientes tomaron quimioprofilaxis antimalárica, pero ninguno completó la pauta. El tratamiento más empleado fue la combinación quinina y doxiciclina (64,7%). Se administró de manera incorrecta el tratamiento antimalárico en 9 pacientes (17,6%). Al menos encontramos un criterio de malaria severa en el 23,5% de los casos; sin embargo, la evolución clínica fue buena en todos los casos y ningún enfermo falleció.
Conclusiones. La mayoría de los casos de malaria que ingresan en nuestro hospital son inmigrantes que viajan a sus países de origen para estancias cortas y no toman la quimioprofilaxis, aumentando considerablemente el riesgo de adquirir malaria. Además, la administración de un tratamiento inadecuado es relativamente frecuente en el manejo de pacientes con malaria importada.

Introduction. The increasing frequency of malaria infection in our area is due to the rise in international travel and immigration from endemic malaria areas. The aim of this study is to describe the chemoprophylaxis taken and treatment given as well as the clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics for those patients admitted to our hospital with malaria.
Methods. A retrospective study of patients with malaria admitted to the Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, between January 1998 and December 2010, was carried out.
Results. During this period, fifty one cases of malaria were diagnosed. 78.3% of them were immigrants of whom 65% resided in Spain and had travelled to their country of origin for a short stay. Seventy four per cent acquired the infection in central and west Africa, and Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for the majority of the cases (88%). Only four patients had taken antimalarial chemoprophylaxis but none correctly.
The most frequently treatment used was a combination of quinine and doxycicline (64.7%). Inappropriate anti-malarial treatment occurred in 9 patients (17.6%). At least one indicator of severe malaria was established in 23.5% of the cases; however, the clinical outcome was successful in every case and no patient died.
Conclusions. Imported malaria is observed mostly among immigrants who travel to their countries of origin for a short stay and do not take anti-malarial prophylaxis, increasing the risk of acquiring malaria. Inappropriate malarial treatment is relatively frequent in the case management of imported malaria.

Introduction. The increasing frequency of malaria infection in our area is due to the rise in international travel and immigration from endemic malaria areas. The aim of this study is to describe the chemoprophylaxis taken and treatment given as well as the clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics for those patients admitted to our hospital with malaria.
Methods. A retrospective study of patients with malaria admitted to the Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, between January 1998 and December 2010, was carried out.
Results. During this period, fifty one cases of malaria were diagnosed. 78.3% of them were immigrants of whom 65% resided in Spain and had travelled to their country of origin for a short stay. Seventy four per cent acquired the infection in central and west Africa, and Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for the majority of the cases (88%). Only four patients had taken antimalarial chemoprophylaxis but none correctly.
The most frequently treatment used was a combination of quinine and doxycicline (64.7%). Inappropriate anti-malarial treatment occurred in 9 patients (17.6%). At least one indicator of severe malaria was established in 23.5% of the cases; however, the clinical outcome was successful in every case and no patient died.
Conclusions. Imported malaria is observed mostly among immigrants who travel to their countries of origin for a short stay and do not take anti-malarial prophylaxis, increasing the risk of acquiring malaria. Inappropriate malarial treatment is relatively frequent in the case management of imported malaria.