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Introduction: The increasing frequency of malaria infection in our area is due to the rise in international travel and immigration from endemic malaria areas. The aim of this study is to describe the chemoprophylaxis taken and treatment given as well as the clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics for those patients admitted to our hospital with malaria., Methods: A retrospective study of patients with malaria admitted to the Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, between January 1998 and December 2010, was carried out., Results: During this period, fifty one cases of malaria were diagnosed. 78.3% of them were immigrants of whom 65% resided in Spain and had travelled to their country of origin for a short stay. Seventy four per cent acquired the infection in central and west Africa, and Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for the majority of the cases (88%). Only four patients had taken antimalarial chemoprophylaxis but none correctly. The most frequently treatment used was a combination of quinine and doxycicline (64.7%). Inappropriate anti-malarial treatment occurred in 9 patients (17.6%). At least one indicator of severe malaria was established in 23.5% of the cases; however, the clinical outcome was successful in every case and no patient died., Conclusions: Imported malaria is observed mostly among immigrants who travel to their countries of origin for a short stay and do not take anti-malarial prophylaxis, increasing the risk of acquiring malaria. Inappropriate malarial treatment is relatively frequent in the case management of imported malaria.

Chagas disease is a disease endemic in Latin America, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Benznidazole is the most commonly used drug for the etiological treatment of the disease although its effectiveness varies according to the phase of the same and toxic side effects are frequent. This prospective study describes the side effects of benznidazole treatment of a cohort of 373 chronic patients. Of these 40.2% presented adverse reactions. The most frequent side effect were dermatological reactions 32.4% (121 of 373) followed by digestive intolerance 9.1% (34 of 373). Surprisingly, three cases of migratory arthritis were observed. Patients treated with benznidazole must be followed up so that the long term incidence of side effects can be studied.