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[A case of congenital malaria]
Kook In Park1, Hee Dae Park, Dong Gwan Han
1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Yonsei University,Seoul, Korea.
Summary
This case study reports the first instance of congenital malaria in Korea, diagnosed in an infant exposed to Plasmodium falciparum. The infant recovered fully after treatment with quinine sulfate and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Tropical Medicine
Background:
- Congenital malaria is a rare condition where malaria parasites are transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy or delivery.
- Imported malaria cases can occur in non-endemic regions due to international travel.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first case of congenital malaria in Korea.
- To describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and successful treatment of congenital malaria in an infant.
- To highlight the importance of considering malaria in infants with relevant travel history.
Main Methods:
- Clinical case observation and detailed patient history.
- Laboratory investigations including peripheral blood smear for malaria parasite detection.
- Treatment with standard antimalarial drugs.
Main Results:
- A 46-day-old Korean infant presented with symptoms consistent with malaria, including fever, jaundice, and hepatosplenomegaly.
- Peripheral blood smear confirmed Plasmodium falciparum infection.
- The infant showed complete recovery after treatment with quinine sulfate and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.
Conclusions:
- This case represents the first documented congenital malaria infection in Korea, imported from Africa.
- Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for favorable outcomes in congenital malaria.
- Physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for malaria in infants presenting with compatible symptoms, especially with a history of travel to endemic areas.