Case report
Congenital Plasmodium vivax malaria mimicking neonatal sepsis: a case report
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* Corresponding author: Veronica Del Punta vdelpunta@gmail.com
1 Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Piazza Spedali Civili, 1 25125 Brescia, Italy
2 Department of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care, Spedali Clivili, Brescia, Italy
3 Laboratory of Chemical and Clinical Analysis, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
Malaria Journal 2010, 9:63 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-9-63
Published: 1 March 2010Abstract
Although malaria in pregnancy can cause very significant neonatal morbidity, congenital malaria is a very rare condition in both endemic and non-endemic areas. A case of congenital malaria by Plasmodium vivax, initially mistaken for neonatal sepsis, is described. The correct diagnosis was accidentally done, as congenital malaria had been missed in the initial differential diagnosis.
Vivax malaria is the leading species in congenital infections in Europe. This condition should be included in the differential diagnosis of neonatal sepsis even if the mother has no proven malarial episodes during the gestational period.