Malaria in pregnancy: The World Health Organization describes malaria as a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes. It is one of the most devastating infectious diseases, affecting more than one million people annually. After tuberculosis, malaria is the second leading cause of death from infectious diseases. Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by a protozoan of the genus Plasmodium. Four species of the genus Plasmodium; Plasmodium vivax, p. Oval, p. Falciparum, p. Malaria. The first two pieces are prevalent in India. Parts of India where malaria is endemic include the northeastern states, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, the coastal region of Karnataka and Chhattisgarh.Also read – With dengue cases on the rise, the Union Health Minister called a meeting with the Delhi government to review the situation.
Malaria in pregnancy
Pregnancy is the immunosuppressive stage; This makes them more susceptible to malaria-causing parasites than the general population. They are more likely to become infected, recur or develop serious complications that can lead to death. Dr. B. Ramesh, founder, and Urology Laboratory Laparoscopic Surgeon, Altius Hospital, Bengaluru, explains below how dangerous malaria can be for pregnant women. Also read – Dengue cases in Delhi have crossed 1,000 this year, up from 280 last week
How does malaria affect pregnancy?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pregnant women lose some protection against malaria due to changes in their immune system and the presence of new organs. (Placenta) With new places for parasites to stick. This altered immune response in pregnancy makes them more susceptible to its consequences. It can harm both mother and baby. Also read – Mosquirix – World’s 1st Malaria Vaccine Approved by WHO. You need to know
Signs of malaria in pregnant women
Pregnant women who get malaria may experience these symptoms:
- Fever with cold
- Rigidity
- headache
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Feeling of discomfort
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dehydration
- Anemia
If a pregnant woman develops these symptoms, she should consult her doctor immediately to avoid complications.
What effect does malaria have on pregnancy?
A pregnant woman for the first time has the maximum risk, as the immune system increases with increasing equality. And passive transfer of IgG antibodies into the placenta helps protect the fetus and newborn for the first 3-6 months during infancy.
What is incompatible malaria?
Complex malaria is defined as: Typical infection with the malaria parasite without signs of severity and / or evidence of vital organ dysfunction.
What is complex or severe malaria?
P. Complicated or severe malaria in a patient with falciparum with one or more of the following fatal complications is defined as symptomatic malaria:
- Cerebral malaria (unused coma due to other causes)
- Common seizures (> 2 episodes within 24 hours)
- Severe normocytic anemia (Ht <15% or Hb <5 g / dl) - The malaria parasite is capable of breaking down and destroying red blood cells. When this happens in a pregnant woman, it can lead to severe anemia, such as she not having the ability to cope with the bleeding (bleeding) during childbirth, which makes the pregnant woman more likely to die during childbirth.
- Hypoglycemia (blood glucose <40 mg / dl)
- Metabolic acidosis with respiratory distress (arterial pH <7.35 or bicarbonate <15 mmol / l)
- Fluid and Electrolyte Disruption –
- Acute renal failure (urine <400 ml / 24 hours in adults; 12 ml / kg / 24 hours in children)
- Acute pulmonary edema and adult respiratory distress syndrome
- Abnormal bleeding
- Jaundice
- Hemoglobinuria
- Circulatory collapse, shock,
- Septicemia (algid malaria)
- Hyperparathyroidism (> 10% in non-immune;> 20% in semi-immune)
How to make a diagnosis?
- Light microscopy
- Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs).
Common methods for parasitic diagnosis of malaria. Microscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of malaria for parasitic density, species diagnosis and monitoring response to treatment.
What is the treatment for malaria in pregnancy?
The antimalarials considered safe in the first trimester of pregnancy are quinine, chloroquine, proguanil, pyrimethamine, and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. Of these, quinine remains the most effective and can be used in all trimesters of pregnancy, including the first trimester. The experience of artemisinin derivatives is increasing in the second and third trimesters and no adverse effects on the mother or fetus have been observed. Therefore, artemisinin derivatives may be used to treat uncomplicated falciparum malaria in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, but should not be the first choice in the first trimester.
