A Retrospective Review on Severe Malaria in Colombia, 2007-2020.

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of severe malaria (SM) or complicated malaria is insufficient in all its components. The least known type is the one associated with , compared to that caused by . The aim of this study was to provide a general overview of epidemiological information about the burden of SM, obtained from the National Public Health Surveillance System (SIVIGILA) for the period 2007-2020 in Colombia.

METHODS

A descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study of secondary information was performed via SIVIGILA.

RESULTS

There were 9881 SM cases among 1,060,950 total malaria cases in Colombia in 2007-2020: 9.31 SM cases per 1000 malaria cases. During this period, there were 7145 SM cases due to the following species: , 57.6%; , 38.6%; severe mixed malaria, 3.2%; and , 0.6%. The most compromised organ systems are the hematological system (54.9%), the liver (9.1%), the kidneys (4.2%), the lungs (1.9%) and the brain (1.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

There has been a reduction in malaria incidence in Colombia in the last 10-15 years, but there has also been a strong increase in SM incidence. We suggest emphasizing the prevention of the onset of severe malaria, with the early and accurate diagnosis of plasmodial infection.