Congenital malaria in a neonate: case report with a comprehensive review on differential diagnosis, treatment and prevention in Indian perspective

Abstract

Although malaria in pregnancy, lactation and congenital malaria can be a disease burden in the endemic zones of Africa and Indian sub-continent, it is still epidemiologically less investigated in India. As it may lead to considerable maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, awareness and timely intervention is necessary for desirable outcome and prevention of the condition. Very few reports of congenital malaria are available in the literature from an endemic country like India. Herein we describe a case of congenital malaria from north India in a 21-day neonate. Clinical presentation of this condition in the neonate may offer a considerable diagnostic challenge, and differentiation from vector borne malaria in infants may be important from the management point of view. Hence a review of the differential diagnosis, management and prevention of congenital malaria has been attempted in the Indian perspective.

Contribution of Murine Models to the Study of Malaria During Pregnancy

“…Moreover, the postnatal scenario of human MiP might rarely include the appearance of congenital malaria, whose onset is tightly controlled by transplacental transmission of maternal antibodies to the fetus, resulting in isolated and scarce events often diagnosed as neonatal sepsis (Rai et al, 2015; Bhatia et al, 2016). Conceptus infection might occur due to blood exchanges at delivery or during pregnancy due to loss of villi integrity and syncytium rupture (Crocker et al, 2004; Robbins and Bakardjiev, 2012; Souza et al, 2013).…”

Congenital Malaria in a 2-Day-Old Neonate: A Case Report and Literature Review

“…On the other hand, delayed presentation of CM has been reported up to 2 months after delivery [ 3 ]. A case report by Rai and colleagues documented a 21-day-old neonate with congenital malaria in Burundi [ 17 ]. This is because transplacentally acquired maternal antibodies delay the onset of symptoms, with symptom occurrence coinciding with half-life of maternal IgG antibodies [ 17 ].…”

Congenital Malaria due to Plasmodium Vivax- A report of two Cases

“…Neonatal malaria has an occurrence rate of 0.3% in immune mothers and 7.4% in non-immune mothers. 5,6,7 Placental infection occurs in as many as one-third of women who acquire the infection during pregnancy. In endemic areas, there is a spontaneous clearance of infection among neonates due to the protective effect of maternal antibodies (IgG) and presence of fetal hemoglobin in slowing the rate of parasite development.…”