• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.639-644
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• 2014

Congenital malaria is assumed to be a risk factor for infant morbidity and mortality in endemic areas like Maumere, Indonesia. Infected infants are susceptible to its impact such as premature labor, low birth weight, anemia, and other unspecified symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of congenital malaria and the influence of mother-infant paired parasite densities on the clinical outcome of the newborns at TC Hillers Hospital, Maumere. An analytical cross sectional study was carried out in newborns which showed criteria associated with congenital malaria. A thick and thin blood smear confirmed by nested PCR was performed in both mothers and infants. The association of congenital malaria with the newborn's health status was then assessed. From 112 mother-infant pairs included in this study, 92 were evaluated further. Thirty-nine infants (42.4%) were found to be infected and half of them were asymptomatic. Infected newborns had a 4.7 times higher risk in developing anemia compared to uninfected newborns (95% CI, 1.3-17.1). The hemoglobin level, erythrocyte amount, and hematocrit level were affected by the infants' parasite densities (P<0.05). Focusing on newborns at risk of congenital malaria, the prevalence is almost 3 times higher than in an unselected collective. Low birth weight, anemia, and pre-term birth were the most common features. Anemia seems to be significantly influenced by infant parasite densities but not by maternal parasitemia.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.72-77
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• 1984

A case of congenital malaria infection has been studied in a 46-day old female Korean infant. Her mother suffered from malaria infection during pregnancy in Uppervolta, Africa, and returned to Korea at the 9th month of gestation for delivery. At 39 days of age, the clinical features characterized by fever, irritability, pallor, jaundice and hepatosplenomegaly were developed. The laboratory data revealed a hemolytic anemia with thronbocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia and increased hepatic enzyme values. A peripheral blood smear demonstrated intraerythrocytic malarial parasites and gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum. She was successfully treated with quinine solfate (25mg/kg/day in three doses for 5 days) and trimethoprimejsulfamethoxazole (8mg/kg/day in two doses for 5 days) orally, and repeated blood smear had been negative for malaria. This report also signifies the first description of congenital malaria in Korea imported from Uppervolta in Africa. A brief review of related literature was made.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.821-825
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• 2003

Malaria is known to have been eradicated for a few decades through the persistent efforts of the national health program in South Korea. However, malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax has started to reappear incidiously among military personnel near to the De-militarized Zone since 1993. From that time on the number of malarial cases have increased abruptly year by year. However, congenital malaria in a neonate is extreamly rare in Korea. We experienced one case of malaria in a neonate who was born from a mother affected by malaria. This neonate was born at $33^{+3}$ weeks of gestational age. Here we present this case with a brief review of the literature.