Annals of Tropical Paediatrics
Volume 18, Issue 1, 1998, Pages 41-43

Plasmodium vivax congenital malaria in a newborn of a Zairian immigrant (Article)

Comellini L. , Tozzola A. , Baldi F. , Brusa S. , Serra L. , Agostoni C. , Scaglia M.*
  • a Division of Paediatrics, Imola Hospital, Imola, Italy
  • b Division of Paediatrics, Imola Hospital, Imola, Italy
  • c Division of Paediatrics, Imola Hospital, Imola, Italy
  • d Division of Paediatrics, Imola Hospital, Imola, Italy
  • e Division of Paediatrics, Imola Hospital, Imola, Italy
  • f Clinical Parasitology Laboratory, Infect. Dis. Research Laboratories, University - IRCCS San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
  • g Clinical Parasitology Laboratory, Infect. Dis. Research Laboratories, University - IRCCS San Matteo, Pavia, Italy, Clinical Parasitology Laboratory, Infect. Dis. Research Laboratories, University - IRCCS San Matteo, Viale Taramelli 5, 27100 Pavia, Italy

Abstract

We report a case of congenital malaria in a newborn whose mother is a native of Zaire now living in Italy. The baby developed remittent fever in the 3rd week of life with anaemia and hepatosplenomegaly. Malaria parasites found in blood smears and erroneously diagnosed initially as Plasmodium falciparum were subsequently recognized as Plasmodium vivax. On the basis of the first diagnosis, treatment with quinine chlorhydrate was successfully undertaken without significant side-effects. P. vivax parasites were also recovered a posteriori in blood smears of the mother who was febrile during the week of her delivery. This report suggests that symptomatic congenital malaria may be more common than is generally thought and should be suspected in non-malarious countries in febrile newborns born to mothers who have travelled in or immigrated from malaria-endemic areas.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

male Plasmodium vivax case report human blood smear Malaria quinine derivative newborn Italy congenital infection Democratic Republic Congo Article clinical feature hepatosplenomegaly immigration fever anemia
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0031929544&doi=10.1080%2f02724936.1998.11747924&partnerID=40&md5=676f992dd3dc88d5a9a21b7fb75b1d34
DOI: 10.1080/02724936.1998.11747924
ISSN: 02724936
Cited by: 14
Original Language: English