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Malaria

Malaria in pregnancy is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires urgent treatment.

In 2008, 1370 imported infections were reported in the UK, although the numbers of infected pregnant women were not identified. 79% of infections were from Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous form of malaria. P. falciparum affects travellers to West Africa (especially Nigeria and Ghana). P. vivax is more likely to affect travellers to Asia (especially the Indian subcontinent) and causes relapsing malaria (although there is some evidence that P. vivax is not as benign as previously thought). Travellers to South and Central America, Hispaniola, Oceania and the Middle East can also be at risk of malaria infection.

Image showing Anopheles minimus mosquito with a close of the blood meal within its abdominal segment. A. minimus is one of the mosquito species responsible for spreading the P. falciparum parasite.
Anopheles minimus mosquito. Note the blood meal within its abdominal segment. A. minimus is one of the mosquito species responsible for spreading the P. falciparum parasite. James Gathany/CDC/Public Health Image Library.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The Prevention of Malaria in Pregnancy. Green-top Guideline 54a. London: RCOG, 2010.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria in Pregnancy. Green-top Guideline 54b. London: RCOG, 2010.

PDF icon Gitau GM, Eldred JM. Malaria in pregnancy: clinical, therapeutic and prophylactic considerations. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2005;7:5–11.

PDF icon Whitty CJM, Edmonds S, Mutabingwac TK. Malaria in pregnancy. BJOG 2005;112:1189–95 .

Arbeille P, Carles G, Bousquet F, Body G, Lansac J. Fetal cerebral and umbilical artery blood flow changes during pregnancy complicated by malaria. J Ultrasound Med 1998;17:223–9.

Maubert B, Fievert N, Tami G, Cot M, Boudin C, Deloron P. Development of antibodies against chondroitin sulfate A-adherent Plasmodium falciparum in pregnant women. Infect Immun 1999;67:5367–71.

Verhoeff FH, Brabin BJ, Hart CA, Chimsuku L, Kazembe P, Broadhead R. Increased prevalence of malaria in HIV-infected pregnant women and its implications for malaria control. Trop Med Int Health 1999;4:5–12.