Case report: Severe congenital malaria acquired in utero

Abstract

Vertical transmission of Plasmodium falciparum is under-recognized and usually associated with asymptom-atic low-level parasitemia at birth. We report symptomatic congenital malaria presenting as a neonatal sepsis syndrome. The presence at birth of a high asexual parasitemia, gametocytemia, and splenomegaly indicated in utero rather than intrapartum transmission. The neonate was successfully treated with intravenous artesunate followed by oral dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, without apparent adverse effects. Copyright © 2010 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.