| Importance and prevention of malaria in pregnancy. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 12886801 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Malaria in pregnancy is one of the most important preventable causes of low birthweight deliveries worldwide. It is also a major cause of severe maternal anaemia contributing to maternal mortality. It is estimated that 40% of the world's pregnant women are exposed to malaria infection during pregnancy. The clinical features of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in pregnancy depend to a large extent on the immune status of the woman, which in turn is determined by her previous exposure to malaria. In pregnant women with little or no pre-existing immunity, such as women from non-endemic areas or travellers to malarious areas, infection is associated with high risks of severe disease with maternal and perinatal mortality. Women are at particular risk of cerebral malaria, hypoglycaemia, pulmonary oedema and severe haemolytic anaemia. Fetal and perinatal loss has been documented to be as high as 60-70% in non-immune women with malaria. Adults who are long-term residents of areas of moderate or high malaria transmission, including large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, usually have a high level of immunity to malaria. Infection is frequently asymptomatic and severe disease is uncommon. During pregnancy this immunity to malaria is altered. Infection is still frequently asymptomatic, so may go unsuspected and undetected, but is associated with placental parasitization. Malaria in pregnancy is a common cause of severe maternal anaemia and low birthweight babies, these complications being more common in primigravidae than multigravidae. Preventative strategies include regular chemoprophylaxis, intermittent preventative treatment with antimalarials and insecticide-treated bednets. |
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Authors:
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Caroline E Shulman; Edgar K Dorman |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Volume: 97 ISSN: 0035-9203 ISO Abbreviation: Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. Publication Date: 2003 Jan-Feb |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2003-07-30 Completed Date: 2003-09-02 Revised Date: 2005-11-17 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7506129 Medline TA: Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 30-5 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK. caroline.shulman@btinternet.com |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Anemia
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complications Antimalarials / therapeutic use Bedding and Linens Endemic Diseases Female Fetal Growth Retardation / parasitology HIV Infections / complications Humans Infant, Low Birth Weight Infant, Newborn Insect Control Malaria, Falciparum / congenital, prevention & control* Maternal Mortality Obstetric Labor, Premature / parasitology Poverty Areas Pregnancy Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / prevention & control* Prenatal Diagnosis Travel |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Antimalarials |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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