title: Congenital Plasmodium falciparum malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: a rarity or frequent occurrence?
abstract: It is still debatable whether congenital Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a rarity or a frequent occurrence in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this report is to review scientific information and findings from investigations conducted in sub-Saharan Africa on the occurrence of congenital malaria to highlight the need for development of appropriate public health policy on prevention, care, treatment, and support activities. Studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa within the last two decades (1986 to 2006) that investigated congenital or transplacental malaria were identified using the Medline-Entrez Pubmed search and systematically reviewed. References from selected publications obtained from a Google search were also used to identify additional relevant literature for the review. Five of the studies reviewed indicated that congenital malaria is a rare event in sub-Saharan Africa with prevalence ranging from 0% to 0.7% although maternal malaria parasitemia rates of between 24.8 and 54.4% were obtained. Nine other studies noted that congenital malaria was not uncommon, with prevalence reaching up to 37%. These studies also noted high frequency of neonatal peripheral parasitemia ranging from 4.0 to 46.7%. Congenital malaria should be suspected and investigated in babies whose mothers are parasitemic, particularly if the babies are febrile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053 Abakaliki, Nigeria. unekecj@yahoo.com
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Uneke
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials