Epidemiological aspectes of imported malaria 1976-1985.

The comparative analysis of the cases of imported malaria in Lombardy and in Italy during the en-years period 1976-1985 shows that the prevalent factors of risk are, in both case-lists, the Young age, the work motivated travelling and the stay in endemic areas of tropical Africa, where P. falciparum is greatly prevalent. Interesting outcomes of comparison of the two consecutive five-years periods 1976-1980 and 1981-1985 are discussed. As far as the african provenience (decreased) and the work motivated travelling (increased) are concerned, the two case lists are consistent and agree, yet P. falciparum malaria cases are decreased in Lombardy only. The increasing habit of chloroquine chemoprophylaxis in Lombardy, the persistant sensitivity of P. vivax to this drug and the widespread extent of chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum strains in Africa are to be taken into account.