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Malaria prevention and stand-by emergency treatment among Japanese travelers.
Travel Med Infect Dis. 2006 Mar; 4(2):81-5.TM

Abstract

BACKGROUND

While chemoprophylaxis remains the safest option for most travelers to malaria high-risk areas, stand-by emergency treatment (SBET) may also be a sensible option especially for travelers to low-risk areas, due to the possible adverse effects (AEs) of prophylactic antimalarials. However, studies on the suitability of SBET actually implemented by travelers are scarce, especially those targeting Japanese travelers. We investigated to what extent malaria prevention measures are taken and how effectively SBET is used by Japanese travelers to malaria-endemic areas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A questionnaire study was conducted targeting Japanese travelers who visited quarantine stations for pre-travel health advice and who had previously visited malaria-endemic areas as defined by the World Health Organization (N = 160).

RESULTS

The results showed that only a minority (13%) of travelers to malaria-endemic areas took chemoprophylaxis. Although most (89%) of the SBET users (N = 9) took antimalarial drugs when they experienced both fever and chills, characteristic of clinical malaria, there were several problems related to SBET. Some (22%) of the subjects conducted SBET less than 7 days after entering the area, most (89%) of them did so when a medical facility was readily accessible, and many (56%) failed to seek medical attention soon after SBET or did not at all.

CONCLUSIONS

Japanese travelers to malaria-endemic areas seemed less protected with the use of chemoprophylaxis. Furthermore, problems related to SBET among Japanese travelers were identified. These should be taken into full consideration when educating both travelers and travel health professionals to avoid risks of malaria and possible AEs of antimalarial drugs.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Kimura M
Infectious Disease Surveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. kimumiki@nih.go.jp
Kawakami K
No affiliation info available
Hashimoto M
No affiliation info available
Hamada M
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdolescentAdultAntimalarialsChemopreventionCross-Sectional StudiesDeveloping CountriesFemaleHumansJapanMalariaMaleMiddle AgedPatient ComplianceSurveys and QuestionnairesTime FactorsTravel

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

16887729

Citation

Kimura, Mikio, et al. "Malaria Prevention and Stand-by Emergency Treatment Among Japanese Travelers." Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, vol. 4, no. 2, 2006, pp. 81-5.
Kimura M, Kawakami K, Hashimoto M, et al. Malaria prevention and stand-by emergency treatment among Japanese travelers. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2006;4(2):81-5.
Kimura, M., Kawakami, K., Hashimoto, M., & Hamada, M. (2006). Malaria prevention and stand-by emergency treatment among Japanese travelers. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 4(2), 81-5.
Kimura M, et al. Malaria Prevention and Stand-by Emergency Treatment Among Japanese Travelers. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2006;4(2):81-5. PubMed PMID: 16887729.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Malaria prevention and stand-by emergency treatment among Japanese travelers. AU - Kimura,Mikio, AU - Kawakami,Keiko, AU - Hashimoto,Michiko, AU - Hamada,Masaru, PY - 2004/12/16/received PY - 2005/03/22/revised PY - 2005/03/23/accepted PY - 2006/8/5/pubmed PY - 2006/9/29/medline PY - 2006/8/5/entrez SP - 81 EP - 5 JF - Travel medicine and infectious disease JO - Travel Med Infect Dis VL - 4 IS - 2 N2 - BACKGROUND: While chemoprophylaxis remains the safest option for most travelers to malaria high-risk areas, stand-by emergency treatment (SBET) may also be a sensible option especially for travelers to low-risk areas, due to the possible adverse effects (AEs) of prophylactic antimalarials. However, studies on the suitability of SBET actually implemented by travelers are scarce, especially those targeting Japanese travelers. We investigated to what extent malaria prevention measures are taken and how effectively SBET is used by Japanese travelers to malaria-endemic areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire study was conducted targeting Japanese travelers who visited quarantine stations for pre-travel health advice and who had previously visited malaria-endemic areas as defined by the World Health Organization (N = 160). RESULTS: The results showed that only a minority (13%) of travelers to malaria-endemic areas took chemoprophylaxis. Although most (89%) of the SBET users (N = 9) took antimalarial drugs when they experienced both fever and chills, characteristic of clinical malaria, there were several problems related to SBET. Some (22%) of the subjects conducted SBET less than 7 days after entering the area, most (89%) of them did so when a medical facility was readily accessible, and many (56%) failed to seek medical attention soon after SBET or did not at all. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese travelers to malaria-endemic areas seemed less protected with the use of chemoprophylaxis. Furthermore, problems related to SBET among Japanese travelers were identified. These should be taken into full consideration when educating both travelers and travel health professionals to avoid risks of malaria and possible AEs of antimalarial drugs. SN - 1477-8939 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/16887729/Malaria_prevention_and_stand_by_emergency_treatment_among_Japanese_travelers_ L2 - https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1477-8939(05)00033-5 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -