Malaria in pregnancy complications in Southern Venezuela
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Malaria in pregnancy complications in Southern Venezuela. / Romero, Mariestéfany; Leiba, Elízabeth; Carrión-Nessi, Fhabián S; Freitas-De Nobrega, Diana C; Kaid-Bay, Serris; Gamardo, Ángel F; Chavero, Melynar; Figuera, Luisamy; Camejo-Ávila, Natasha A; Marcano, María V; Lopez-Perez, Mary; Forero-Peña, David A.
In: Malaria Journal, Vol. 20, No. 1, 186, 2021.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Malaria in pregnancy complications in Southern Venezuela
AU - Romero, Mariestéfany
AU - Leiba, Elízabeth
AU - Carrión-Nessi, Fhabián S
AU - Freitas-De Nobrega, Diana C
AU - Kaid-Bay, Serris
AU - Gamardo, Ángel F
AU - Chavero, Melynar
AU - Figuera, Luisamy
AU - Camejo-Ávila, Natasha A
AU - Marcano, María V
AU - Lopez-Perez, Mary
AU - Forero-Peña, David A
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - BACKGROUND: Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to malaria infections, increasing the risk of maternal-fetal complications, mainly in high-endemicity areas. However, few studies of malaria in pregnancy (MiP) have been carried out in Latin America, a region with low endemicity and transmission of both, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. Despite the high malaria burden in Venezuela in the last years, no recent studies of MiP have been conducted. Hence, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pregnant women with malaria in southern Venezuela are described herein.METHODS: A retrospective study in pregnant women attending at the "Ruíz y Páez" University Hospital Complex, Bolivar state, Venezuela, was carried out between February and October, 2019. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory information was analysed.RESULTS: Thirty-seven out of 52 pregnant women analysed were infected with P. vivax. Age ranged between 15 and 39 years, and adolescent pregnancies were common. Malaria infection was diagnosed mainly during the third trimester of pregnancy (63.4%). The distribution of symptoms and signs as well as clinical laboratory values was similar among Plasmodium spp. Although uncomplicated malaria was most frequent, 30% (13/52) had severe anaemia. A high proportion of studied women (44%) presented at least one complication during the pregnancy or delivery. Spontaneous abortion was recorded in four women, and three fetal deaths were observed. Six women had preterm delivery without any further complication.CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of maternal-fetal complications was found in the studied population, highlighting the requirement for a careful medical follow up during the prenatal check-ups, which should include routinary malaria tests. Preventive measures as distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito net for pregnant women at risk should also be implemented. Those measures can help to reduce the negative impact of malaria on the newborn and mother.
AB - BACKGROUND: Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to malaria infections, increasing the risk of maternal-fetal complications, mainly in high-endemicity areas. However, few studies of malaria in pregnancy (MiP) have been carried out in Latin America, a region with low endemicity and transmission of both, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. Despite the high malaria burden in Venezuela in the last years, no recent studies of MiP have been conducted. Hence, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pregnant women with malaria in southern Venezuela are described herein.METHODS: A retrospective study in pregnant women attending at the "Ruíz y Páez" University Hospital Complex, Bolivar state, Venezuela, was carried out between February and October, 2019. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory information was analysed.RESULTS: Thirty-seven out of 52 pregnant women analysed were infected with P. vivax. Age ranged between 15 and 39 years, and adolescent pregnancies were common. Malaria infection was diagnosed mainly during the third trimester of pregnancy (63.4%). The distribution of symptoms and signs as well as clinical laboratory values was similar among Plasmodium spp. Although uncomplicated malaria was most frequent, 30% (13/52) had severe anaemia. A high proportion of studied women (44%) presented at least one complication during the pregnancy or delivery. Spontaneous abortion was recorded in four women, and three fetal deaths were observed. Six women had preterm delivery without any further complication.CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of maternal-fetal complications was found in the studied population, highlighting the requirement for a careful medical follow up during the prenatal check-ups, which should include routinary malaria tests. Preventive measures as distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito net for pregnant women at risk should also be implemented. Those measures can help to reduce the negative impact of malaria on the newborn and mother.
U2 - 10.1186/s12936-021-03728-9
DO - 10.1186/s12936-021-03728-9
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 33858446
VL - 20
JO - Malaria Journal
JF - Malaria Journal
SN - 1475-2875
IS - 1
M1 - 186
ER -
ID: 260148763