Topic:

Parasitology and parasitic infections

Abstract No.:

ISE.123

Title:

Epidemiology of  Malaria in Chabahar, Southeastern Iran

Author(s):

B. Sharifi-Mood¹, J. Moazen², M. Metanat², R. Alavi-Naini³, M. Bikbeli², N. Kiani²; ¹Boo-ali Hospital, Infectious Diseases, Research Center for Infectious Diseases and tropical Medicine, Zahedan/IR, ²Boo-ali Hospital, infectious Diseases,Research Center for Infectious Diseases and tropical Medicine, Zahedan, SIATAN&BALOOCHESTAN/IR, ³Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Infectious Disease, Zahedan/IR

Abstract:

Background:  Malaria is a major health challenge in many tropical countries such as Iran especially in the Southeastern Iran. Despite lots of immigrants each year in this area, it seems malaria is under control in Chabahar. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the process of this infection in recent years.
Methods: In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, we studied all patients with definite diagnosis of malaria who had positive blood smear for malaria in a period of 5 years in Chabahar from January 2006 to December 2010.
Results: We evaluated 7679 patients (5363 Male, 2316 Female) with malaria infection during that period of time. Most of the patients were older than 15 years old (70.2%). 6254 cases (81.4%) had Plasmodium vivax, 16.6% P.Falciparum and 128(1.6%) mixed infection, with the highest rate in 2008 (26.8%) and the lowest in 2010(14.3%).The total number of patients admitted to hospital and mixed infection had increased from 2006 to 2010 which were 20 versus 31 cases for admission and 11 versus 53 patients for mixed infection. There was no mortality related to malaria in this study. No significant statistical differences were seen in the rate of falciparum malaria during that period of time.
Conclusion: Our study showed that preventive programs, management of immigrants and early diagnosis and treatment of patients for controlling malaria in Chabahar had been successful. However increasing rate of hospital admission and mixed infection in this region should alert physicians for severe form of malaria.