Malaria in Children at 9 US Hospitals: 2016-2023.

Abstract

This study set out to describe imported pediatric malaria in the United States over an 8-year period, including patient demographics, clinical outcomes, and risk factors for severe disease. A retrospective descriptive study of pediatric patients treated for malaria at 9 hospitals in the United States from 2016 to 2023 was conducted to analyze patient demographics, clinical outcomes, and risk factors for severe malaria. A total of 171 children were treated across the 9 US hospitals included in this study from 2016 to 2023. Most patients had traveled to West Africa to visit friends and relatives. Fever was the most common symptom recorded (90%), and most reported at least 1 abdominal symptom (66%). Thirty-two percent of patients were diagnosed with severe malaria. No deaths occurred. Delayed diagnoses were common (26%), occurred at similar rates across all hospitals in the study, and were a risk factor for severe malaria. Delayed diagnoses of travel-acquired malaria were common for pediatric patients presenting to hospitals in the United States and are associated with higher risk for severe malaria, which is associated with longer hospitalizations and increased morbidity. Chemoprophylaxis against travel-acquired malaria and prompt diagnosis of imported cases are crucial to improving patient outcomes.