Volume 14, Number 2—February 2008
Dispatch
Prolonged Plasmodium falciparum Infection in Immigrants, Paris
Eric D’Ortenzio*1
, Nadine Godineau†, Arnaud Fontanet‡, Sandrine Houze*, Olivier Bouchaud¶#, Sophie Matheron***, and Jacques Le Bras*
, Nadine Godineau†, Arnaud Fontanet‡, Sandrine Houze*, Olivier Bouchaud¶#, Sophie Matheron***, and Jacques Le Bras*Table 1
Univariate analysis of factors associated with prolonged Plasmodium falciparum infection in 248 immigrant travelers*
| Variable | Case-patients (n = 61), no. (%) | Controls (n = 197), no. (%) | OR (95% CI) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | ||||
| Female | 33 (54.1) | 75 (38.1) | 1 | |
| Male |
28 (45.9) |
122 (61.9) |
0.52 (0.29–0.93) |
0.03 |
| Age, y | ||||
| <5 | 2 (3.3) | 10 (5.1) | 1 | |
| 5–14 | 5 (8.2) | 18 (9.1) | 1.39 (0.22–8.51) | |
| 15–60 | 53 (86.9) | 163 (82.7) | 1.63 (0.34–7.66) | 0.83 |
| >60 |
1 (1.6) |
6 (3.1) |
0.83 (0.06–11.23) |
|
| Origin | ||||
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 55 (90.2) | 181 (91.9) | 1 | |
| Comoros Islands | 5 (8.2) | 14 (7.1) | 1.18 (0.41–3.41) | |
| Other | 1 (1.6) | 2 (1) | 1.65 (0.15–18.5) | 0.89 |
| South America | 0 | 1 (0.5) | NA | |
| Caribbean | 0 | 1 (0.5) | NA | |
| India |
1 (1.6) |
0 |
NA |
|
| First-arrival immigrant | ||||
| No | 24 (39.3) | 183 (92.9) | 1 | |
| Yes |
37 (60.7) |
14 (7.1) |
20.15 (9.54–42.57) |
<0.001 |
| Region of malaria acquisition | ||||
| West Africa | 32 (52.5) | 132 (67) | 1 | |
| Central Africa | 22 (36.1) | 44 (22.3) | 2.06 (1.09–3.92) | 0.03 |
| East Africa | 1 (1.6) | 2 (1) | 2.06 (0.18–23.46) | |
| Comoros Islands | 5 (8.2) | 18 (9.1) | 1.15 (0.4–3.32) | |
| Other |
1 (1.6) |
1 (0.5) |
4.12 (0.25–67.74) |
|
| Chemoprophylaxis | ||||
| No | 50 (82) | 118 (59.9) | 1 | |
| Yes | 9 (14.8) | 71 (36) | 0.3 (0.14–0.65) | 0.002 |
| Unknown |
2 (3.2) |
8 (4.1) |
NA |
|
| Prophylaxis with mefloquine | ||||
| No | 56 (91.8) | 186 (94.4) | 1 | |
| Yes | 3 (4.9) | 3 (1.5) | 3.32 (0.65–16.92) | 0.15 |
| Unknown |
2 (3.3) |
8 (4.1) |
NA |
|
| Antimalarial self-medication | ||||
| No | 55 (90.2) | 171 (86.8) | 1 | |
| Yes | 5 (8.2) | 15 (7.6) | 1.04 (0.36–2.98) | 0.95 |
| Unknown | 1 (1.6) | 11 (5.6) | NA | |
| Men | 28 (45.9) | 122 (61.9) | 1 | |
| Nonpregnant women | 16 (26.2) | 69 (35) | 1.01 (0.51–2) | |
| Pregnant women |
17 (27.9) |
6 (3.1) |
12.35 (4.46–34.14) |
<0.001 |
| HIV status | ||||
| Negative | 22 (36.1) | 42 (21.3) | 1 | |
| Positive | 12 (19.7) | 6 (3.1) | 3.82 (1.26–11.56) | 0.02 |
| Unknown |
27 (44.3) |
149 (75.6) |
NA |
|
| Symptomatic malaria | ||||
| No | 8 (13.1) | 0 (0) | 1 | |
| Yes |
53 (86.9) |
197 (100) |
0.3 (0.25–0.47) |
<0.001 |
| Parasitemia† | ||||
| High | 2 (3.3) | 18 (9.1) | 1 | |
| Low | 59 (96.7) | 179 (90.9) | 1.61 (0.53–4.9) | 0.4 |
*OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; NA, not applicable.
†Parasitemia (parasitized erythrocytes) was considered high if >4% and low if <4% by World Health Organization criteria.
