What should you know about placental malaria?

Malaria is an infection transmitted by infected mosquitoes. During pregnancy, malaria parasites can collect in the placenta, where they may affect maternal health and the pregnancy even when symptoms are mild or absent. Fever, chills and muscle aches can occur, but symptoms are not enough to confirm malaria. A Blood Test helps clinicians look for the infection and decide on treatment suitable for pregnancy.

If you are pregnant and have fever or chills after living in or travelling to a malaria-risk area, contact a clinician urgently and mention the travel dates. Do not self-treat with leftover medicines. Take prescribed treatment as instructed and attend obstetric follow-up. Future prevention may include Malaria Prophylaxis and a Travel Health Consultation before travel, with the choice guided by pregnancy, destination and medical history.

Seek emergency help for confusion, fainting, seizures, severe weakness, breathing difficulty, repeated vomiting, or reduced awareness. In pregnancy, urgent assessment is also needed for heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, reduced fetal movement, or a rapidly worsening fever. Malaria can deteriorate quickly, so do not wait for symptoms to settle on their own.

Ask how the infection will be tested, which treatment is appropriate in pregnancy, how the baby will be monitored, and how to prevent another exposure.