Malaria Reemergence in the Peruvian Amazon Region
Author Information
Author(s): Javier Aramburu Guarda, Cesar Ramal Asayag, Richard Witzig
Primary Institution: Loreto Department of Public Health, Iquitos, Peru; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Hypothesis
What factors contributed to the reemergence of malaria in the Peruvian Amazon region?
Conclusion
The reemergence of malaria in Loreto, Peru, is linked to increased transmission of Plasmodium falciparum and the rise of drug-resistant strains.
Supporting Evidence
- Malaria cases in Loreto increased 50-fold from 1992 to 1997.
- Plasmodium falciparum became the dominant malaria strain in Loreto by 1997.
- Resistance to chloroquine and pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine was documented in the region.
Takeaway
Malaria is coming back in Peru, especially in the Loreto region, and it's becoming harder to treat because some medicines don't work anymore.
Methodology
The study involved in vivo drug susceptibility testing of P. falciparum in patients from periurban and rural areas.
Limitations
The study may not fully capture all malaria cases due to reliance on slide-confirmed diagnoses.
Participant Demographics
The study included patients from periurban and rural areas in Loreto, with a higher prevalence in males (60.5%).
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