Protozoan Infections in Pregnancy

Pregnancy complicated by malaria, precipitate labor and uterine rupture

“…The interaction of pregnancy and malaria is influenced by the nature of the organism and the immune status of the host, with known higher incidence of premature labor and abortion in infected pregnant patients [3]. A large body of clinical observations indicates that pregnancy exerts a dampening effect on the immunity to malaria with marked tendency toward recrudescence of the disease during pregnancy and the puerperium just as after surgical procedures [4].…”

“…Malaria is a protozoan infection characterized by relapsing fever, rigors, splenomegaly and anemia caused by four plasmodium species transmitted from human to human by the bite of female anopheline mosquitoes. It has been and continues to be a worldwide health problem, endemic in Africa, Asia and Central and South America [3].…”