[Malaria prevention. Risk of infection in relation to preventive measures].

Between 1980 and 1985 falciparum malaria was diagnosed in 28 and tertian malaria in 17 patients. Only three of the 35 non-immune patients complied with the appropriate chemoprophylaxis; these three patients nevertheless developed tertian malaria (recurrences caused by "dormant" merozoites). The main drawbacks of chemoprophylaxis were lack of patient compliance (26 out of 35 patients) and inappropriate medical advice (14 out of 35 patients). Initial symptoms developed within one month after the end of exposition in 21 out of 23 patients infected by Plasmodium falciparum, but only in three out of twelve cases of tertian malaria. Risk of infection by Plasmodium falciparum is highest in Africa, while most of the malaria cases in India are caused by Plasmodium vivax. Long-term prophylaxis using pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine (Fansidar) is not advisable as there is a risk of life-threatening side effects.