Features of patients with malaria treated at the Department of Child Health Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta

Abstract

Background Malaria is endemic throughout the tropical areas of the world. In Jakarta, one of the cities in Indonesia that has been declared to be free of malaria, malaria was found in 1044 patients from 1974 to 1990. All patients were infected in other areas. Objective To describe the clinical features of malaria in the Department of Child Health, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta. Methods A retrospective study was carried out on all patients with malaria treated at the Department of Child Health, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, from January 1995 to December 2000. Results There were 10 inpatients and 5 outpatients with malaria eligible in this study. Most patients (13) were boys, and 8 patients aged 5-9 years. We found falciparum malaria in 5, one of which with cerebral malaria, vivax in 3 patients, and mixed infection in 4 patients. In 3 patients, the type of malaria could not be detected. Three out of the referred patients were referred with the diagnosis of leukemia. Fever, splenomegaly, and pale were found in most patients. All inpatients recovered completely on discharge. Conclusions In malaria-free areas, all patients were infected in other areas and some were referred with misdiagnoses. Malaria should be considered in patients with fever or pale and organomegaly.

Keywords

• malaria
• fever
• pale
• organomegaly
• chloroquin
• quinine
• primaquine