Malaria in gold-mining areas in Colombia.

Gold-mining may play an important role in the maintenance of malaria worldwide. Gold-mining, mostly illegal, has significantly expanded in Colombia during the last decade in areas with limited health care and disease prevention. We report a descriptive study that was carried out to determine the malaria prevalence in gold-mining areas of Colombia, using data from the public health surveillance system (National Health Institute) during the period 2010-2013.

[Antipsychotic prescription patterns in patients affiliated to the Social Security Health System in Colombia].

Introduction: Schizophrenia alters individual perception, thought, affection and behavior. Drug therapy can improve these manifestations.

Objective: To determine prescription patterns of antipsychotic drugs in a group of patients affiliated to the Social Security Health System in Colombia.

[Prevalence of Avoidable Potential Interactions Between Antidepressants and Other Drugs in Colombian Patients].

Objectives: To determine the possible drugs interactions with antidepressive agents in data bases of patients in the Health Insurance System of Colombia.

Methods: From data bases of about 4 million users in Colombia, a systematic review of drugs dispensation statistics was made to identify drug interactions between antidepressive agents, cholinergic antagonists and tramadol in 2010.

Results: We identified 114,465 monthly users of antidepressive agents.

[Antidepressant prescription patterns in patients affiliated with the General Social Security Health System of Colombia].

Objective: Determine patterns of antidepressive drug prescription in a group of patients affiliated with the General Social Security Health System in Colombia.

Methods: Observational descriptive study of 9 881 patients, of both sexes and older than 5 years of age, medicated with antidepressants and continuously treated from August to October 2009. The patients include residents from 56 Colombian cities.