OUTCOME AND COMPLICATIONS OF MALARIA IN PREGNANCY

Background: Malaria during pregnancy may affect the course adversely. The physiological changes of pregnancy and pathological changes due to malaria have a deleterious effect on each other. This trial was conducted to study the complications and outcome of malaria during pregnancy. Material & Methods: It was a prospective study carried out at District Headquarter Teaching Hospital, D.I.Khan, Pakistan, from 1st April 2005 to 31 December 2006. Patients with malaria and pregnancy were included in the study. Results: One hundred and twenty-nine pregnant patients with malaria were included. Regarding parity and stage of pregnancy, malarial infestation was more common in multipara and majority 52(40%) of patients were in second trimester of pregnancy. The commonest pathogen found was Plasmodium falciparum in 99(76.75%). Most of the infected patients 77(59.70%) with Plasmodium falciparum were multigravida. Regarding complications, 81(62%) patients were having hemoglobin 8-10g/dl and 48(38%) less than 8g/dl. Three (2%) patients were having cerebral malaria. Regarding pregnancy outcome, 39(30%) developed puerperal pyrexia, 18(14%) had spontaneous abortion, 11(9%) babies of infected mothers died in neonatal period and 8(6%) patients had pre-term labor. Conclusion: Maternal malaria adversely affects the pregnancy outcome. It increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, stillbirths, premature delivery and low birth weight.