[Imported paludism: an emerging illness].

Background: We aimed at knowing the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of imported malaria in Maresme county (Barcelona), Spain.

Patients And Method: A descriptive and retrospective study of patients diagnosed with imported malaria at the Hospital de Mataró (HM) (1982-2000).

Results: 64 cases of malaria were diagnosed, which supposed a significant increase in its incidence over the last decade.