Outcomes of imported malaria during pregnancy within Venezuelan states: implications for travel advice

Pregnancy outcomes in women with imported malaria in mainland France: A retrospective study from 2004 to 2014

OBJECTIVES

There is little data on pregnant women with imported malaria in high-income countries, especially regarding offspring outcomes. We wanted to determine pregnancy outcomes of imported malaria in pregnant women in mainland France.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study of outcomes in pregnant women hospitalized with malaria from 2004 to 2014 in two regions of mainland France. An adverse outcome was defined as a miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth (<35 weeks of gestation), low birth weight (LBW) defined as less than 2500 g, or congenital malaria.

RESULTS

Of 60 pregnancies, 5 were excluded because of elective abortions; 55 were investigated, of which 11 were primigravidae and 44 multigravidae. Pregnancies were singleton (n = 51) or twin (n = 4). Mean age was 30.4 years (range:19-45 y). Among the 55 cases, 9 ended in a miscarriage (8 singletons and 1 twin pregnancy) and 1 had a stillbirth at 21 weeks of gestation, all immediately after the malarial episode. 45 gave birth (29 vaginal deliveries and 16 caesarean sections) to 48 (42 singletons and 6 twins) newborns. Amongst these, 30 were healthy full-term newborns, 10 had LBW, and 8 were preterm. Overall, 26 of 55 (47.3%) pregnancies, and 29 of 59 (49.2%) offsprings had adverse outcomes. Compared to singleton pregnancies, twin pregnancies were associated with adverse outcomes (p = 0.0438).

CONCLUSIONS

Imported malaria has a severe impact on pregnancy outcomes. Prevention and management of imported malaria in pregnancy should be optimized.

Congenital malaria in a neonate: case report with a comprehensive review on differential diagnosis, treatment and prevention in Indian perspective

Although malaria in pregnancy, lactation and congenital malaria can be a disease burden in the endemic zones of Africa and Indian sub-continent, it is still epidemiologically less investigated in India. As it may lead to considerable maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, awareness and timely intervention is necessary for desirable outcome and prevention of the condition. Very few reports of congenital malaria are available in the literature from an endemic country like India. Herein we describe a case of congenital malaria from north India in a 21-day neonate. Clinical presentation of this condition in the neonate may offer a considerable diagnostic challenge, and differentiation from vector borne malaria in infants may be important from the management point of view. Hence a review of the differential diagnosis, management and prevention of congenital malaria has been attempted in the Indian perspective.

Imported cases of malaria admitted to two hospitals of Margarita Island, Venezuela, 1998-2005

BACKGROUND

Imported cases of malaria constitute an important public health problem in many countries, even in those with autochthonous cases, where disease could be acquired in these areas and then seen in non-endemic regions. Non-immune populations are susceptible to complications due to malaria infection, particularly in malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. However, Plasmodium vivax the predominant Plasmodium spp. in Venezuela can also lead to severe malaria.

METHODS

We reviewed retrospectively cases of malaria to identify the clinical features of those imported cases diagnosed at two institutions in Margarita Island (a non-endemic area), Venezuela, in an 8-year period. We conducted a retrospective observational study to identify the clinical and epidemiological features among hospitalized patients at Hospital Central and Hospital Agustin Hernández with malaria acquired at malaria-endemic locations.

RESULTS

We identified eighteen imported cases of malaria confirmed by thin and thick peripheral blood smears at these two institutions over an 8-year period. The mean age of diagnosis was 27 years. P. vivax was responsible for the majority of cases. All patients presented with fever, 89% with malaise, 78% with chills, and 67% with myalgia, among others symptoms. Mean haemoglobin levels on admission were 8.1g/dL (100% <12g/dL); platelets: 79,283cells/mm(3) (89% had platelets below 150,000); and a mean total leukocyte count: 3.4x10(3)cells/mm(3) (78% had leukopenia). Thirty nine percent of patients required blood transfusions. Two fatalities were identified (CFR=11%), one associated to severe malaria due to P. falciparum and the other due to a complicated case of P. vivax malaria.

DISCUSSION

Imported cases of malaria due to P. vivax and P. falciparum in the studied population are associated with significant hematological complications. These findings illustrate the importance of educating non-immune populations about the malaria risk and prevention strategies; and from a pubic health perspective, the need to develop further malaria prevention strategies at a national level.

Atypical Plasmodium vivax malaria in a traveler: bilateral hydronephrosis, severe thrombocytopenia, and hypotension

We report a case of Plasmodium vivax infection manifested as severe thrombocytopenia, bilateral hydronephrosis, and hypotension in a returning traveler from a malaria-endemic area in Venezuela. While most of the efforts to prevent malaria in travelers focus on the life-threatening consequences of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, nonimmune travelers who encounter infection with P vivax may also develop serious complications. This case highlights the importance of preventing malaria cases among nonimmune or semi-immune individuals traveling to P vivax-endemic areas.