The burden of imported malaria in Cape Town, South Africa

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dc.contributor.authorOpie, Jessica
dc.contributor.authorFreeks, Roschelle
dc.contributor.authorDu Pisani, Louis Almero
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:20:29Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:20:29Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: The Western Cape Province of South Africa (SA) is not malaria endemic; however, a considerable number of patients present with malaria to our healthcare services. OBJECTIVES: To establish the frequency of patients presenting with malaria at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH), Cape Town, SA, and to describe their demographics, clinical outcomes and laboratory findings. METHODS: An observational, retrospective, descriptive study was conducted, which included all patients presenting with smear-positive malaria to GSH over a 4-year period between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2012. RESULTS: During the study period, 134 malaria patients presented to GSH for management; 85% (n=114) were male, median age was 27 years. Of the total smear-positive tests, 96% (n=128) were Plasmodium falciparum, 3% (n=4) P. ovale, and in 1% (n=2) the species was not identified. The number of malaria patients increased markedly, from 6 cases in 2008 to 50 cases in 2012. Of the patients, 48.3% (n=57) were from Somalia, 8.5% (n=10) from SA and 29% (n=30) from other African countries. One SA patient acquired transfusion-transmitted malaria from a pooled platelet product, and the other SA patients had travelled to malaria-endemic areas. The remaining cases were from countries outside of Africa, including 13% (n=15) from Bangladesh. Almost two-thirds (62%; n=72) were admitted to hospital with a median length of stay of 3 days (range 1 - 32). Clinical outcomes were good with only one death and the remaining patients being discharged. CONCLUSION: Imported malaria is imposing a significant burden on health resources. The costs of medical care for the emergency treatment of foreign nationals needs to be recognised, and adequately budgeted for.
dc.identifier.apacitationOpie, J., Freeks, R., & Du Pisani, L. A. (2014). The burden of imported malaria in Cape Town, South Africa. <i>South African Medical Journal</i>, 104(5), 347 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34934en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationOpie, Jessica, Roschelle Freeks, and Louis Almero Du Pisani "The burden of imported malaria in Cape Town, South Africa." <i>South African Medical Journal</i> 104, 5. (2014): 347 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34934en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationOpie, J., Freeks, R. & Du Pisani, L.A. 2014. The burden of imported malaria in Cape Town, South Africa. <i>South African Medical Journal.</i> 104(5):347 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34934en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0038-2469
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Opie, Jessica AU - Freeks, Roschelle AU - Du Pisani, Louis Almero AB - BACKGROUND: The Western Cape Province of South Africa (SA) is not malaria endemic; however, a considerable number of patients present with malaria to our healthcare services. OBJECTIVES: To establish the frequency of patients presenting with malaria at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH), Cape Town, SA, and to describe their demographics, clinical outcomes and laboratory findings. METHODS: An observational, retrospective, descriptive study was conducted, which included all patients presenting with smear-positive malaria to GSH over a 4-year period between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2012. RESULTS: During the study period, 134 malaria patients presented to GSH for management; 85% (n=114) were male, median age was 27 years. Of the total smear-positive tests, 96% (n=128) were Plasmodium falciparum, 3% (n=4) P. ovale, and in 1% (n=2) the species was not identified. The number of malaria patients increased markedly, from 6 cases in 2008 to 50 cases in 2012. Of the patients, 48.3% (n=57) were from Somalia, 8.5% (n=10) from SA and 29% (n=30) from other African countries. One SA patient acquired transfusion-transmitted malaria from a pooled platelet product, and the other SA patients had travelled to malaria-endemic areas. The remaining cases were from countries outside of Africa, including 13% (n=15) from Bangladesh. Almost two-thirds (62%; n=72) were admitted to hospital with a median length of stay of 3 days (range 1 - 32). Clinical outcomes were good with only one death and the remaining patients being discharged. CONCLUSION: Imported malaria is imposing a significant burden on health resources. The costs of medical care for the emergency treatment of foreign nationals needs to be recognised, and adequately budgeted for. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 5 J1 - South African Medical Journal LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2014 SM - 0038-2469 T1 - The burden of imported malaria in Cape Town, South Africa TI - The burden of imported malaria in Cape Town, South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34934 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34934
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationOpie J, Freeks R, Du Pisani LA. The burden of imported malaria in Cape Town, South Africa. South African Medical Journal. 2014;104(5):347 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34934.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDivision of Haematology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.sourceSouth African Medical Journal
dc.source.journalissue5
dc.source.journalvolume104
dc.source.pagination347 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.7904
dc.subject.otherAdolescent
dc.subject.otherAdult
dc.subject.otherChild
dc.subject.otherChild, Preschool
dc.subject.otherCost of Illness
dc.subject.otherFemale
dc.subject.otherHumans
dc.subject.otherMalaria
dc.subject.otherMale
dc.subject.otherMiddle Aged
dc.subject.otherRetrospective Studies
dc.subject.otherSouth Africa
dc.subject.otherTime Factors
dc.subject.otherYoung Adult
dc.titleThe burden of imported malaria in Cape Town, South Africa
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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