Malaria

• This project commenced in January 2006 for 13 months.

• The United Kingdom currently has one of the highest incidences of imported malaria cases among industrialised countries, with over 2000 cases notified to the National Malaria Reference Laboratory every year. Children account for around 10-15% of all cases.

• While the total number of paediatric cases has only increased modestly in recent years, the proportion of cases due to Plasmodium falciparum, which is responsible for almost all the mortality associated with malaria, has more than quadrupled in the last 2 decades.

• This BPSU study aims to determine the incidence and clinical features of imported malaria in children; to identify high risk groups or regions within the UK and Ireland that might benefit from enhanced public health measures to improve uptake of antimalarial prophylaxis; to determine the incidence, risk factors and clinical spectrum of severe malaria; and, to determine how imported malaria is managed and outcome at hospital discharge.

• Funded: Sir Peter Tizard Bursary.

• Ethics: Approved by the Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and Rutland MREC (Reference: 05/Q2502/120) and PIAG.

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