Year: 2024 | Month: February | Volume: 14 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 168-172
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20240222
Severe Plasmodium Vivax Malaria Complicating Pregnancy: A Daunting Obstetric Challenge
Chirag Sharma1, Hina Patel2, Vaidehi Nagar3
1Senior Resident, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Valsad.
2Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Valsad.
3Senior Resident, Department of Pathology, GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Valsad.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Chirag Sharma
ABSTRACT
Pregnant women are more prone to severe malaria and its complications. We present a case of severe malaria in a pregnant patient who improved with artesunate therapy. A 30-year-old G3P2L2, 36-week-pregnant woman presented to our institute with five days of fever, joint pain, night sweats, vomiting, dyspnea, and general discomfort. A peripheral smear performed following the complete blood count revealed P. vivax parasitemia with ring forms, schizonts and a parasite index of 6.2%. The patient was admitted to the ICU and given intravenous clindamycin and artesunate. After the fifth artesunate dose, the peripheral smear showed no parasites. A clinic follow-up after discharge showed no new disease or treatment issues. The WHO recommends the use of intravenous artesunate for treating severe malaria in all trimesters. This case study shows the importance of diagnosing malaria in pregnant women and the safe use of artesunate compounds to protect the mother.
Key words: thrombocytopenia in pregnancy, severe malaria, pyrexia in pregnancy, malaria in pregnancy, high risk obstetrics