STANDBY TREATMENT OF SUSPECTED MALARIA IN TRAVELERS

Travellers to malarious areas are increasingly advised to carry an eme rgency medication for self-treatment of suspected malaria in absence o f medical attention. However, no data are available so far how travell ers cope with self-diagnosis and stand by treatment (SBT). We therefor e investigated the frequency, circumstances and outcome of emergency s elf-treatment for suspected malaria in German travellers. 3434 travell ers were recruited for an open prospective study by 28 different trave l clinics in Germany. 2867 travellers (90.1%) who returned questionnai res after their journey were analyzed. 40 travellers (1.4%) reported a bout SBT during their journey. Significant Plasmodium falciparum antib ody levels could be demonstrated in only 4 of 37 SBT users (10.4%). In another 127 travellers with febrile episodes but without SBT use, no malaria was indicated by follow-up and/or serology.