Malaria in pregnancy with a report of a case
Librach, I.M.
British Journal of Clinical Practice 33(5): 144-146
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0007-0947 PMID: 534599 Document Number: 145672
A case of Plasmodium vivax infection in a 17-year-old pregnant Pakistani woman recently arrived in Britain is reported and the implications of malaria in pregnancy are discussed. Although congenital malaria is exceedingly rare in endemic immune areas, parasites may cross the placenta in non-immune women. The most important effect of malaria in pregnancy is haemolytic anaemia which usually occurs between the 16th and 24th weeks. Malaria infection in the mother may reduce the infant's birth-weight and in endemic areas malaria is the major cause of 'small for date' babies, especially in primiparae.