Effects of malaria infection on pregnancy.
A study of the effects of malaria infection on the progress and outcome of pregnancy was carried out during 1987-88 in the Medical College Hospital, Surat, Gujarat. Pregnant women were highly susceptible to the infection (SPR, 57.7) compared to the general population (SPR, 18.6). P. falciparum infection was predominant (62.4%). The infection rate was also found to be higher (SPR, 72.2%) in second trimester compared to first and third semesters. Primigravidae seemed to be at a greater risk as the mean parasitaemia level was higher (39%) and the outcome poor as compared to multigravidae (29%). Infection during pregnancy caused severe maternal complications like abortion (9.7%), premature labour (59.6%), and still-births (5.7%), which were higher in P. falciparum infection. Microcytic anaemia combined with dimorphic anaemia was predominant in the infected group (89.5%). Cord blood in 4 cases and on baby's blood were found positive for malaria parasite, showing transplacental passage of malaria parasites, which is rare. The infection was found to have a definite bearing on the low birth weight of babies. Chemoprophylaxis could obviate much of the complications.
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D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
D006454:Hemoglobins