Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

Neonatal malaria and obstructive jaundice

M Davenport

    Archives of Disease in Childhood
    |May 1, 1986
    PubMed

    Insights

    Transplacental malaria can cause persistent conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and liver disease in infants. This case highlights the severe complications of malaria transmitted from mother to child.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatrics
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Hepatology

    Background:

    • Congenital malaria, transmitted via the placenta, poses significant risks to newborns.
    • Persistent conjugated hyperbilirubinemia in infants can indicate serious underlying pathology.
    • Liver disease in neonates requires thorough investigation into potential infectious or genetic causes.

    Observation:

    • A neonate presented with persistent conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and signs of liver dysfunction.
    • Malaria parasites were detected, indicating transplacental transmission from the mother.
    • The infant's clinical course was complicated by the liver disease associated with malaria.

    Findings:

    • The case demonstrates a direct link between transplacental malaria and sustained conjugated hyperbilirubinemia.
    • Infant malaria can manifest with severe hepatic involvement, extending beyond typical febrile presentations.
    • Diagnosis of congenital malaria is crucial for timely intervention and management of associated complications.

    Implications:

    • This case underscores the importance of screening pregnant women and newborns for malaria in endemic areas.
    • Early diagnosis and treatment of congenital malaria are vital to prevent severe outcomes like liver disease.
    • Further research into the pathophysiology of malaria-induced liver injury in neonates is warranted.

    More Related Videos

    Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus06:15

    Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus

    Published on: March 6, 2019

    A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis08:46

    A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis

    Published on: August 12, 2020

    Related Concept Videos

    Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder01:26

    Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder

    Liver and gallbladder diseases are a significant health concern, with prominent conditions including cirrhosis, hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and gallstones. Jaundice is a common manifestation of liver and biliary disease.
    Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not related to...
    Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

    Cytomegalovirus Disease

    Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
    Malaria01:29

    Malaria

    Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...
    Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

    Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

    Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
    Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

    Encephalitis l: Introduction

    Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
    Jaundice01:25

    Jaundice

    Jaundice, or icterus, is the yellow discoloration of the skin, sclerae, and mucous membranes. It happens when plasma bilirubin levels rise above 2.5-3 mg/dL, leading to bilirubin deposition in tissue.Bilirubin is a byproduct of hemoglobin degradation. In macrophages, hemoglobin breaks down into globin and heme. Globin is converted into amino acids, while heme is turned into biliverdin by heme oxygenase, which is then reduced to unconjugated bilirubin by biliverdin reductase.Unconjugated...