Publication
Title
Behavioral-aspects of travelers in their use of malaria presumptive treatment
Author
Abstract
The use of stand-by treatment for malaria by travellers depends on their knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. We examined the behavioural aspects of a cohort of travellers from Switzerland to low-risk malarial areas who, on recruitment, were provided with a kit containing medication for stand-by treatment, guidelines on the diagnosis of malaria, and materials for collection of blood samples for later confirmation of malaria. All subjects were urged to seek medical advice at the first signs of possible malarial symptoms. Illness (fever as the main indicator) was reported by 123 of the 1187 participants, often accompanied by shivering/chills (36.6%), headache (35.0%), gastrointestinal symptoms (69.9%), and myalgia and/or arthralgia (41.5%). Two-thirds of those ill failed to seek medical attention despite their symptoms and pretravel advice. Only 9 (7.3%) were actually beyond the reach of medical attention. The stand-by treatment was self-administered by 6 travellers, only one of whom had confirmed malaria. Two nonserious adverse events were reported. All users consulted a physician after administering the presumptive treatment. This stand-by approach is limited by inappropriate behaviour and poor malaria awareness among travellers. These negative factors can be mitigated by development of an improved kit containing a simple test for self-diagnosis.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Bulletin of the World Health Organization. - Genève
Publication
Genève : 1995
ISSN
0042-9686
Volume/pages
73 :2 (1995) , p. 215-221
ISI
A1995QX32000009
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 08.10.2008
Last edited 04.03.2024
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