Congenital infection with Plasmodium malariae: a rare case of intrauterine transmission in Germany
The case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic complexities of life-threatening congenital P. malariae infections in non-endemic countries. It underlines the importance of clinicians' awareness of maternal travel or migration history and individualized treatment strategies. The increasing global mobility necessitates updated guidelines for congenital malaria management even for less likely P. malariae infections. Prophylactic measures, early recognition, and multidisciplinary management are critical for improving outcomes for such rare but severe presentations and their long-lasting complications. Possible comprehensive neonatal malaria screening in high-risk populations should be considered in the future.
Authors
- Caroline Holtkamp
- Anne Schönecker
- Andrea Gangfuß (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9975-0092)
- Anna Daniels (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1586-9484)
- Ursula Felderhoff‐Müser (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7765-8893)
- Adela Della Marina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0737-6142)
- Bernd Schweiger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8037-2159)
- Sarah Goretzki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5218-070X)
- Andreas Schönfeld
- Nora Bruns (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3809-1887)
- Hedda Luise Verhasselt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5601-2444)
- Jutta Dedy
- Oliver Witzke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1019-1301)
- Christian Dohna‐Schwake (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8973-5406)
- Jan Dziobaka
- Peter‐Michael Rath
Institutions
- Essen University Hospital (DE)
- University of Duisburg-Essen (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Malaria Journal
- Published
- 2025-03-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05331-8
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Malaria Research and Control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.76
Funders
- Universitätsklinikum Essen