Congenital plasmodium falciparum in a neonate in Kuwait

ABSTRACT

We report the case of a newborn infant who was diagnosed with congenital malaria. This baby was admitted for evaluation of fever which began four days prior to admission. The newborn was pale and had spleenomegaly and normal neonatal reflexes. Laboratory tests, including a peripheral blood smear, revealed Plasmodium falciparum in the red cells. His mother had suffered from malaria eight months back in India for which she took quinine for seven days. The newborn was successfully treated with quinine. He was discharged from the hospital in a good condition with negative blood smears