A review is presented of 58 induced malaria cases diagnosed in the São Paulo State, from January 1983 to July 1990. These cases represent 0.3% of thi malaria notifications. The parameters sex, age parasitaemia, clinical symptoms, clinical course am mean time interval between disease onset and diagnosi were studied in 25 blood-transmitted cases and 2i related to sharing needles. Plasmodium vivax wa diagnosed in 79.4% and in 5.6% Plasmodium vivax am Plasmodium falciparum were seen. Lower mean ag< (p < 0,005) in intravenous drug users when comparei in the blood-transmitted group were observed. The former also had a mean time interval between diseas onset and diagnosis (33.6 days) and patients with blood transmitted disease (20.6 days). No statistical significan differences were observed (p > 0,10). Even though fev induced malaria cases have been diagnosed in Sã Paulo, State, and considering that blood-transmitte malaria is now under control, the occurrence of malari due to sharing needles among intravenous drug user should be regarded as a risk for the reintroduction of the disease in malaria - free areas of São Paulo State.
Malaria; Epidemiology; Transfusional malaria; Malaria among drugs users