case of congenital Malaria in United Arab Emirates

This is report of a case of congenital malaria in a 20-day old neonate born to an immigrant Pakistani mother resident in UAE. The clinical presentation of fever irritability, frequent bowel motions and hepatosplenomegaly was suggestive of neonatal septicaemia. However laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Plasmodium vivax parasites in red blood cells and the infant responded to chloroquine therapy. This report highlights some of the clues to early diagnosis and treatment