Malaria

Abstract

Vivax malaria has occurred every year since its re-emergence in 1993. The majority of malaria infections in the Republic of Korea occur among person living in the vivax malaria -risk area. In the early period, most of the cases were from soldiers stationed in the Demilitarized Zone. But since the year 2000, epidemiologic characteristics have changed. In 2013, 453 cases occurred which is the lowest number since 1996 and more than half of the annual cases are occurring from civilian. Although number of malaria infection occurring among persons who traveled to regions with ongoing malaria transmission is relatively small, imported malaria is the important health concern. Imported malaria infections, especially falciparum malaria can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly with appropriate antimalarial drugs. Even though malaria chemoprophylaxis will prevent majority of malaria infection, majority of persons with imported malaria did not take chemoprophylaxis. For proper prescription of prophylactic antimalarial medications and treatment, clinicians should consider likely country of malaria acquisition and drug resistance situation of that country.

History and Current Status of Malaria in Korea

“…Fortunately, however, there were no further reports of drug resistance. In most foreign countries, there have been no drug resistance problems, except in Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, and India that reported some resistant cases [ 25 ].…”

“…Because there were a mixed number of cases with short and long incubation periods, the timing of fever onset varied widely. Overall, however, the occurrence of the resurgent vivax malaria (onset of febrile attack) tended to be between May and September (from late spring to early autumn) [ 8 25 ]. These seasonal characteristics are almost identical to that of the old Korean vivax malaria recorded in 1913 [ 8 ].…”