Objective: To analyse clinical and prognosis aspects of severe malaria in expatriates hospitalized between 1990 and 1999 in the intensive care unit in Abidjan.
Study design: Retrospective survey.
Methods: According to the World Health Organization's criteria, the retrospective study of severe cases of malaria who received treatment and care at the intensive care unit. Epidemiological, clinical manifestations and evolution were analysed on each patients.
Results: 66 upon 927 expatriates hospitalised in the period of the study, had severe malaria with falciparum Plasmodium (7.12%). The average age was 42 years. Eleven patients took prophylactic treatment (17%). The clinical aspects were neurological (83%) followed by renal failure (48%), haemoglobinuria (48%) and hyperparasitemia (59%). During the hospitalisation we recorded 12 deaths (18%). The criteria that were associated with mortality in pejorative order were: coma (RR = 8.04), respiratory distress (RR = 5.06), metabolic acidosis (RR = 5.06), shock (RR = 3.67) and convulsions (RR = 2.86).
Conclusion: Severe malaria was frequent and associated with high mortality in expatriates who are living in Africa. This study reinsists the necessity of prophylactic treatment to be reinforced in informing the travellers. This study showed frequency and mortality rate of survey of malaria and the criteria associated with high mortality rate.