Report of five cases of severe neonatal Plasmodium vivax malaria in Urabá, Colombia
Keywords:
Plasmodium vivax, malaria, infant, newborn, case studies, Colombia
Abstract
Introduction. Neonatal malaria is a type of malaria that occurs during the first month of life. In the last half century, the reports of malaria parasites in neonates generally have been associated with congenital transmission. However, in recent years, cases have appeared with increasing frequency, especially in Africa. In Latin America, the incidence of neonatal malaria is unknown, with only isolated cases reported.Objective. Cases of neonatal malaria were identified and characterized to better recognize the frequency and symptoms of cases as they occur in Colombia.
Materials and methods. Between March 2002-March 2004, a search for cases of neonatal malaria was made in the hospitals of the Turbo and Apartadó counties (Urabá, Antioquia Province). The following date were compiled: (1) characteristics of the mother, (2) demographic characteristics of the neonates, (3) clinical characteristics of the disease, and (4) laboratory results.
Results. Five cases were discovered of neonatal vivax malaria; however, only one met the criteria for congenital infection. Three patients had institutional delivery and two had a maternal history of gestational malaria, but none underwent a screening test for malaria. One of the four mothers were primaparous and half of them were younger than 20 years. All neonates had fever and presented some sign of severe disease during the first medical examination; each had hemoglobin levels compatible with severe neonatal anemia. No neonate had received the recommended treatment for this type of malaria.
Conclusion: Five cases of severe neonatal malaria were reported, caused by infections of P. vivax, which normally does not produce severe disease. Since none of the malaria cases were recognized or treated at the local hospitals, advisories to medical professionals are recommended concerning neonatal malaria, particularly in endemic regions.
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References
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2. Dirección Seccional de Salud de Antioquia. Eventos de salud pública. [Consultado: mayo de 2007]. Disponible en: http://www.dssa.gov.co/htm/event_1.html
3. Desai M, ter Kuile FO, Nosten F, McGready R, Asamoa K, Brabin B, et al. Epidemiology and burden of malaria in pregnancy. Lancet Infect Dis. 2007;7:93-104.
4. Obiajunwa PO, Owa JA, Adeodu OO. Prevalence of congenital malaria in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. J Trop Pediatr. 2005;51:219-22.
5. Orogade AA. Neonatal malaria in a mesoendemic Malaria area of northern Nigeria. Ann Afr Med. 2004;3:170-3.
6. Runsewe-Abiodun IT, Ogunfowora OB, Fetuga BM. Neonatal malaria in Nigeria, a 2 year review. BMCPediatr. 2006;6:19-24.
7. Alves MJ, Rangel O, Souza SS. Malaria in region of Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brasil, 1980 a 1994. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2000;33:53-60.
8. Fernández RD, García Y, Alger J. Malaria y embarazo: observaciones clínico-epidemiológicas en dos zonas geográficas de Honduras. Rev Med Hondur. 2001;69:8-18.
9. Marques HH, Vallada MG, Sakane PT, Boulos M. Congenital malaria. case reports and a brief review of literature. J Pediatr (Rio J). 1996;72:103-5.
10. Piñeros JG. Malaria congénita. En: Carmona-Fonseca J, editor. Tópicos selectos de infectología. Medellín: Universidad de Antioquia; 2002.
11. Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health Erupean Regional Office World Health Organization. Definitions and indicators in family planning, maternal and child health and reproductive health used in the regional office for Europe. Geneve: WHO; 2001.
12. Henrys D. A propósito de un caso de paludismo congénito en Thomonde, Haití. Acta Médica Dominicana. 1983;6:216-8.
13. Lawn JE, Cousens S, Zupan J. 4 million neonatal deaths: When? Where? Why? Lancet. 2005;365:891- 900.
14. Jaramillo-Bustamante JC. Malaria congénita. En: Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, editores. Tópicos selectos de infectología. Medellín: Universidad de Antioquia; 2006.
15. Hagmann S, Khanna K, Niazi M, Purswani M, Robins EB. Congenital malaria, an important differential diagnosis to consider when evaluating febrile infants of immigrant mothers. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2007;23:326-9.
16. Behrman RE, Kliegman R, Jenson HB. Nelson textbook of pediatrics. 16th Edition. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders; 2000.
17 Organización Panamamericana de la Salud. Atención Integrada a las Enfermedades Prevalentes de la Infancia (AIEPI). Curso clínico para profesionales de la salud. Bogotá, D.C.: Ministerio de la Protección Social; 2005.
18. Goldstein B, Giroir B, Randolph A. International pediatric sepsis consensus conference: Definitions for sepsis and organ dysfunction in pediatrics. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2005;6:2-8.
19. World Health Organization. Severe falciparum malaria. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2000;94 (Suppl.1):s1/2.
20. Ministerio de Salud. Guía de atención de la malaria. Diario Oficial. Edición 43956. Santa Fe de Bogotá:Ministerio de Salud; 2000. p.173-84.
How to Cite
1.
Piñeros JG, Arboleda M, Jaramillo JC, Blair S. Report of five cases of severe neonatal Plasmodium vivax malaria in Urabá, Colombia. Biomed. [Internet]. 2008 Dec. 1 [cited 2025 Apr. 5];28(4):471-9. Available from: https://revistabiomedicaorg.biteca.online/index.php/biomedica/article/view/53
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