Poverty and associated health, nutrition, and social factors prevent at least 200 million children in developing countries from attaining their developmental potential. We review the evidence linking compromised development with modifiable biological and psychosocial risks encountered by children fr...om birth to 5 years of age. We identify four key risk factors where the need for intervention is urgent: stunting, inadequate cognitive stimulation, iodine deficiency, and iron deficiency anaemia. The evidence is also sufficient to warrant interventions for malaria, intrauterine growth restriction, maternal depression, exposure to violence, and exposure to heavy metals. We discuss the research needed to clarify the effect of other potential risk factors on child development. The prevalence of the risk factors and their effect on development and human potential are substantial. Furthermore, risks often occur together or cumulatively, with concomitant increased adverse effects on the development of the world's poorest children.
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Découverte par Alphonse Laveran en 1880, cette maladie parasitaire demeure en 2022 l’endémie la plus répandue dans les régions tropicales et subtropicales. Selon le rapport mondial sur le paludisme de 2021 de l'OMS, on estime à 232 millions le nombre de cas en 2019 dans 87 pays endémiques, d...ont 94 % sont concentrés en Afrique subsaharienne et sont principalement dus à Plasmodium falciparum. Le nombre de décès est passé de 897 000 en 2000 à 568 000 en 2019, dont près de 95 % sont survenus dans 31 pays. Des baisses marquées sont également observées en Asie du Sud-Est. Avec des financements suffisants et un renforcement des campagnes d'information, le contrôle, voire l'éradication du paludisme, restent envisageables.
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Malaria and HIV, two of the world’s most deadly diseases, are widespread, but their distribution overlaps greatly in sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, malaria and HIV coinfection (MHC) is common in the region. In this paper, pertinent publications on the prevalence, impact, and treatment strategie...s of MHC obtained by searching major electronic databases (PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Scopus) were reviewed, and it was found that the prevalence of MHC in SSA was 0.7%–47.5% overall. Prevalence was 0.7%–47.5% in nonpregnant adults, 1.2%–27.8% in children, and 0.94%–37% in pregnant women. MHC was associated with an increased frequency of clinical parasitemia and severe malaria, increased parasite and viral load, and impaired immunity to malaria in nonpregnant adults, children, and pregnant women, increased in placental malaria and related outcomes in pregnant women, and impaired antimalarial drug efficacy in nonpregnant adults and pregnant women. Although a few cases of adverse events have been reported in coinfected patients receiving antimalarial and antiretroviral drugs concurrently, available data are very limited and have not prompted major revision in treatment guidelines for both diseases. Artemisinin-based combination therapy and cotrimoxazole are currently the recommended drugs for treatment and prevention of malaria in HIV-infected children and adults. However, concurrent administration of cotrimoxazole and sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine in HIV-infected pregnant women is not recommended, because of high risk of sulfonamide toxicity. Further research is needed to enhance our understanding of the impact of malaria on HIV, drug–drug interactions in patients receiving antimalarials and antiretroviral drugs concomitantly, and the development of newer, safer, and more cost-effective drugs and vaccines to prevent malaria in HIV-infected pregnant women.
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The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has significantly altered the epidemiology of other infectious diseases, making investigations into its co-infection with malaria particularly relevant in endemic regions. This review examines the epidemiological, incubation and clinical features of the two diseases, high...lighting the diagnostic challenges and strategies for accurate detection. Emerging immunological and genetic evidence indicates that prior exposure to malaria may reduce the severity of outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection through mechanisms involving ACE2 downregulation, TLR signalling, T-cell activation and upregulation of coinhibitory receptors. Additionally, potential control measures are discussed, including vaccine development, the repurposing of antimalarial drugs, the exploration of natural products, innovations in bioinsecticides, and the strengthening of electronic disease surveillance. These insights provide valuable guidance for clinical management and public health policy, while emphasising the need for continued research into the complex interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and malaria.
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Malaria is a significant risk for travelers to endemic regions. This patient information highlights essential prevention through mosquito protection and, when indicated, chemoprophylaxis with Atovaquone/Proguanil, Doxycycline, or Mefloquine. Emergency self-treatment options may be carried in specifi...c settings. Travelers are advised to follow medication schedules carefully, use consistent bite protection, and seek immediate medical care if fever occurs during or after travel. Early recognition and treatment are crucial to prevent severe or life-threatening complications.
Accessed on 26/08/2025.
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The Centrum für Reisemedizin (CRM) is a comprehensive source of information, guidelines and resources on travel medicine for healthcare professionals and travellers. Its website offers up-to-date recommendations on disease prevention, vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis and health risks in different ...regions around the world. As part of the Thieme Group, the CRM promotes evidence-based medical counselling, training and educational materials for patients, with the aim of improving travel health outcomes and ensuring safe international mobility.
Accessed on 26/08/2025.
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The website "Bereit zu Reisen" provides comprehensive guidance on malaria prophylaxis for travelers to endemic regions. It emphasizes preventive strategies, including mosquito bite avoidance through protective clothing, insect repellents, and sleeping under treated nets. In addition, the site detail...s chemoprophylaxis options, explaining recommended medications, dosing schedules, and duration of use before, during, and after travel. Emergency self-treatment procedures are also outlined for situations where immediate medical care is unavailable. Overall, the resource serves as a practical reference for travelers, combining evidence-based recommendations on exposure prevention, medication use, and prompt response to potential malaria symptoms to ensure safe and healthy travel.
Accessed on 26/08/2025.
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In 2019, 1.5 billion international tourist trips were counted worldwide. Germany, with 70.8 million vacations lasting ≥ 5 days, was one of the populations most willing to travel. These days, even elderly and multimorbid persons regularly travel long-distance, which can be associated with significa...nt health risks. By advising travelers and implementing preventive measures, the risk of illness can be reduced significantly.
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This document, issued by the United Nations Medical Directors in July 2021, outlines vaccination and malaria prophylaxis recommendations for UN personnel travelling on official business and UN healthcare workers. The guidance aims to minimise the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases and malaria by f...ocusing on three key areas:(1) routine vaccines, such as those for influenza, measles, polio, hepatitis B, varicella and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the disease known as 'Covid-19'), which are recommended for all staff regardless of their destination;
(2) destination-based measures, including mandatory vaccines (e.g. yellow fever, meningitis and polio), recommended vaccines depending on regional risks (e.g. cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and rabies) and WHO-advised malaria prevention through mosquito protection and chemoprophylaxis. The third area covers vaccines for healthcare workers with direct patient or laboratory exposure, including hepatitis B, influenza, diphtheria, pertussis and others. The recommendations emphasise the importance of pre-travel medical consultations, adherence to host country requirements, and individualised risk assessments.
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The CDC Yellow Book is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's comprehensive reference guide to health issues related to international travel. It provides evidence-based recommendations and practical guidance for healthcare professionals advising travellers, as well as for travellers themse...lves. Topics covered include country-specific vaccination requirements, the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, malaria prophylaxis, food and water safety, the management of travel-related conditions, and guidance for special populations, such as children, pregnant travellers and individuals with chronic illnesses. Updated every two years, the Yellow Book synthesises global surveillance data, World Health Organization guidelines and CDC expertise to help prevent illness and injury during international travel. Serving as both an authoritative clinical tool and a public health resource, it ensures safe and healthy travel worldwide.
Accessed on 27/08/2025.
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Depending on the health profile of the traveller, the type of travel to be undertaken, and the place of transit and destination, travellers may face various health risks during travel. The International travel and health collection is an update of International travel and health (2012) and serves as... an entry point for other World Health Organization (WHO) publications that provide further information. Its primary target audience is travel health practitioners and travel health professionals, who provide health advice to travellers on appropriate precautions to be taken to minimize any travel-related health risks in unfamiliar environments, before, during and after travel. The guidance may also be of interest to health authorities who intend to support travel health professionals in their jurisdiction or develop
health advice for their population. It may also be of interest to travellers who wish to obtain such information for themselves as well as those working in the travel industry, such as agents and organizers, airlines and shipping companies.
Module 3 outlines the clinical features, geographical distribution and chemoprophylaxis against malaria, as well as personal protection measures against mosquitoes that travellers should take during their journey and at destinations, and treatment for those who are infected.
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Published by the World Health Organization, International Travel and Health 2012 provides comprehensive guidance on the health risks associated with international travel, as well as practical measures to prevent or reduce adverse health outcomes. Although the book is primarily intended for medical a...nd public health professionals who advise travellers, it is also useful for travel agents, transport providers and informed travellers. It covers a variety of topics, such as preventing infectious diseases, environmental hazards, accident risks, vaccination requirements, malaria prophylaxis and travel medical kits. Particular attention is given to travellers visiting friends and relatives, those travelling at short notice, and those journeying to remote or high-risk destinations. Recommendations are based on individual health status, destination, travel duration and behaviour. The publication emphasises the shared responsibility of travellers, healthcare providers and the travel industry in promoting safe travel and minimising preventable illnesses. Online updates provide real-time information on outbreaks, vaccine guidance and disease distribution.
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This website provides comprehensive guidance on vaccinations, malaria prevention and general health measures for travellers to tropical and developing regions. It emphasises two main vaccination criteria: the administrative requirements of the destination country and the actual health risks to the t...raveller. Malaria prevention measures include chemoprophylaxis (e.g. atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine) and vector control methods such as insecticide-treated nets, insect repellents and environmental protection measures. Additional travel health risks covered include bites from other arthropods, envenomations, dog and mammal bites, food and water hygiene, traveller's diarrhoea, and considerations for pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and people with chronic conditions. It strongly recommends carrying a travel medical kit and having a pre-travel consultation. Overall, the document aims to minimise illness and ensure safe travel.
Accessed on 27/08/2025.
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This ECDC overview summarises the number of travel-associated malaria cases reported in the EU/EEA in 2023. The cases are based on confirmed reports through the EpiPulse platform and only include infections acquired outside mainland Europe. The data show the number of cases and the infection rate pe...r 100,000 travellers by country of infection. The aim is to inform public health authorities and travellers about malaria risk. Analyses are limited to locations with repeated cases or sufficient case numbers. Infection rates were calculated using IATA air travel data. The findings reflect reported cases only and do not imply ongoing transmission.
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Combination therapy is a cornerstone of modern malaria treatment, particularly in the context of widespread multidrug resistance. Using two or more antimalarial drugs with different mechanisms simultaneously enhances efficacy, shortens treatment duration, improves compliance and delays the developme...nt of resistance. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), such as artemether–lumefantrine, artesunate–amodiaquine and artesunate–sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine, are highly effective in rapidly clearing parasites and reducing gametocyte carriage. They are also generally well tolerated. Non-artemisinin combinations, quinine-based regimens and novel combinations (e.g. piperaquine–dihydroartemisinin) offer alternative therapeutic options, although clinical experience with these remains limited. Although ACTs are the preferred first-line treatment, factors such as cost, local drug resistance patterns, safety during pregnancy and paediatric use must inform implementation and policy decisions.
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To mark the International Day of the African Child, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) celebrated the inclusion of three of its antimalarial medicines on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) and the EML for Children (EMLc). These are two artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) for... adults, children and infants, and a rectal artesunate formulation for the pre-referral treatment of severe malaria in young children. The approved therapies — pyronaridine–artesunate, dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine and rectal artesunate — offer child-friendly formulations and are the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. Inclusion in the EMLc facilitates national adoption, improves access to high-quality treatments and addresses the disproportionate malaria burden among children under five. This supports global efforts to reduce malaria mortality and advance elimination.
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The Mekong Malaria Elimination (MME) programme is an initiative aimed at supporting Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries – Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam, and Yunnan (China) – in achieving the goal of malaria elimination by 2030. Data for this epidemi...ological summary were compiled from country reports. Between July and September 2024, 48 115 malaria cases were reported. During that period, GMS countries recorded 44% fewer cases, with P. falciparum + mixed and P. vivax cases declining by 81% and 36%, respectively. Meanwhile, testing declined by 25% when compared to the same period in 2023.
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In 2022, a total of 6,131 confirmed malaria cases were reported across the EU/EEA. Of these, 5,375 had a known importation status and nearly all (99.8%) were travel-related. Only 13 infections were acquired within Europe, with seven occurring in France, three in Germany, two in Spain and one in Irel...and. A distinct seasonal peak was observed from July to September, reflecting travel to malaria-endemic regions. Notification rates were higher among men than women, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. France reported the highest number of cases, followed by Germany, Spain, Italy and Belgium. After dropping sharply in 2020 due to travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic, overall notification rates increased again in 2021 and 2022, reaching 0.8 cases per 100,000 people. These findings emphasise that malaria in Europe is predominantly an imported disease closely linked to international travel, with sporadic local transmission being rare.
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