Abstract
Malaria is one of the most important tropical diseases imported to Europe. Falciparum malaria may rapidly lead to death if left untreated. Tertian and quartan malaria may also have severe consequences for the sick child. Different drugs for chemoprophylaxis are available. While travelling to malaria endemic countries is on the increase, children are especially prone to severe disease because symptoms in childhood malaria are often unspecific and the disease may progress rapidly. Moreover, doctors and parents still neglect malaria prophylaxis. Wrong or misleading information may even lead some parents to the decision not to give prophylaxis to their children, even if there is a clear indication. For the clinician, the tentative diagnosis of malaria may be difficult due to the inconsistent clinical presentation in children. Proper diagnosis and treatment may also be challenging. We review the clinical features and diagnosis of childhood malaria as well as preventive measures, including chemoprophylaxis. Furthermore, actual guidelines for the clinical management of malaria in children are presented. In a febrile child returning from an endemic country, malaria has to be considered.
Translated title of the contribution | Malaria in children. Prevention and therapy |
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Original language | German |
Pages (from-to) | 463-472 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Padiatrische Praxis |
Volume | 68 |
Issue number | 3 |
State | Published - Jun 1 2006 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Children
- Malaria
- Prevention
- Therapy
- Traveller
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health