Korean J Med.
2014 Mar;86(3):265-270. 10.3904/kjm.2014.86.3.265.
Malaria
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jsyeom@skku.edu
- KMID: 1867353
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2014.86.3.265
Abstract
- Vivax malaria has occurred every year since its re-emergence in 1993. The majority of malaria infections in the Republic of Korea occur among person living in the vivax malaria-risk area. In the early period, most of the cases were from soldiers stationed in the Demilitarized Zone. But since the year 2000, epidemiologic characteristics have changed. In 2013, 453 cases occurred which is the lowest number since 1996 and more than half of the annual cases are occurring from civilian. Although number of malaria infection occurring among persons who traveled to regions with ongoing malaria transmission is relatively small, imported malaria is the important health concern. Imported malaria infections, especially falciparum malaria can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly with appropriate antimalarial drugs. Even though malaria chemoprophylaxis will prevent majority of malaria infection, majority of persons with imported malaria did not take chemoprophylaxis. For proper prescription of prophylactic antimalarial medications and treatment, clinicians should consider likely country of malaria acquisition and drug resistance situation of that country.
