Abstract

A case of congenital malaria infection has been studied in a 46-day old female Korean infant. Her mother suffered from malaria infection during pregnancy in Uppervolta, Africa, and returned to Korea at the 9th month of gestation for delivery. At 39 days of age, the clinical features characterized by fever, irritability, pallor, jaundice and hepatosplenomegaly were developed. The laboratory data revealed a hemolytic anemia with thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia and increased hepatic enzyme values. A peripheral blood smear demonstrated intraerythrocytic malarial parasites snd gametocytes of Plasmodium falcifarum. She was successfully treated with quinine sulfate (25 mg/kg/day in three doses for 5 days) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (8 mg/kg/day in two doses for 5 days) orally, and repeated blood smear had been negative for malaria. This report also signifies the frst description of congenital malaria in Korea imported from Uppervolta in Africa. A brief review of related literature was made.