Increased Risk of Malaria During the First Year of Life in Small-for-Gestational-Age Infants: A Longitudinal Study in Benin

Malaria in pregnancy in India: a 50-year bird's eye

Introduction

In 2021, India contributed for ~79% of malaria cases and ~ 83% of deaths in the South East Asia region. Here, we systematically and critically analyzed data published on malaria in pregnancy (MiP) in India.

Methods

Epidemiological, clinical, parasitological, preventive and therapeutic aspects of MiP and its consequences on both mother and child were reviewed and critically analyzed. Knowledge gaps and solution ways are also presented and discussed. Several electronic databases including Google scholar, Google, PubMed, Scopus, Wiley Online library, the Malaria in Pregnancy Consortium library, the World Malaria Report, The WHO regional websites, and ClinicalTrials.gov were used to identify articles dealing with MiP in India. The archives of local scientific associations/journals and website of national programs were also consulted.

Results

Malaria in pregnancy is mainly due to Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) and P. vivax (Pv), and on rare occasions to P. ovale spp. and P. malariae too. The overall prevalence of MiP is ~0.1-57.7% for peripheral malaria and ~ 0-29.3% for placental malaria. Peripheral Pf infection at antenatal care (ANC) visits decreased from ~13% in 1991 to ~7% in 1995-1996 in Madhya Pradesh, while placental Pf infection at delivery unit slightly decreased from ~1.5% in 2006-2007 to ~1% in 2012-2015 in Jharkhand. In contrast, the prevalence of peripheral Pv infection at ANC increased from ~1% in 2006-2007 to ~5% in 2015 in Jharkhand, and from ~0.5% in 1984-1985 to ~1.5% in 2007-2008 in Chhattisgarh. Clinical presentation of MiP is diverse ranging from asymptomatic carriage of parasites to severe malaria, and associated with comorbidities and concurrent infections such as malnutrition, COVID-19, dengue, and cardiovascular disorders. Severe anemia, cerebral malaria, severe thrombocytopenia, and hypoglycemia are commonly seen in severe MiP, and are strongly associated with tragic consequences such as abortion and stillbirth. Congenital malaria is seen at prevalence of ~0-12.9%. Infected babies are generally small-for-gestational age, premature with low birthweight, and suffer mainly from anemia, thrombocytopenia, leucopenia and clinical jaundice. Main challenges and knowledge gaps to MiP control included diagnosis, relapsing malaria, mixed Plasmodium infection treatment, self-medication, low density infections and utility of artemisinin-based combination therapies.

Conclusion

All taken together, the findings could be immensely helpful to control MiP in malaria endemic areas.

Antimalarial treatment in infants

INTRODUCTION

Malaria in infants is common in high-transmission settings, especially in infants >6 months. Infants undergo physiological changes impacting pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anti-malarial drugs and, consequently, the safety and efficacy of malaria treatment. Yet, treatment guidelines and evidence on pharmacological interventions for malaria often fail to address this vulnerable age-group. This review aims to summarise the available data on anti-malarial treatment in infants.

AREAS COVERED

The standard recommended treatments for severe and uncomplicated malaria are generally safe and effective in infants. However, infants have an increased risk of drug-related vomiting and have distinct pharmacokinetic parameters of antimalarials compared with older patients. These include larger volumes of distribution, higher clearance rates and immature enzyme systems. Consequently, infants with malaria may be at increased risk of treatment failure and drug toxicity.

EXPERT OPINION

Knowledge expansion to optimize treatment can be achieved by including more infants in antimalarial drug trials and by reporting separately on treatment outcomes in infants. Additional evidence on the efficacy, safety, tolerability, acceptability and effectiveness of ACTs in infants is needed, as well as population pharmacokinetics studies on antimalarials in the infant population.

Poor Birth Outcomes in Malaria in Pregnancy: Recent Insights Into Mechanisms and Prevention Approaches

Pregnant women in malaria-endemic regions are susceptible to malaria in pregnancy, which has adverse consequences on birth outcomes, including having small for gestational age and preterm babies. These babies are likely to have low birthweights, which predisposes to infant mortality and lifelong morbidities. During malaria in pregnancy, Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes express a unique variant surface antigen, VAR2CSA, that mediates sequestration in the placenta. This process may initiate a range of host responses that contribute to placental inflammation and dysregulated placental development, which affects placental vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and nutrient transport. Collectively, these result in the impairment of placental functions, affecting fetal development. In this review, we provide an overview of malaria in pregnancy and the different pathological pathways leading to malaria in pregnancy-associated low birthweight. We also discuss current prevention and management strategies for malaria in pregnancy, and some potential therapeutic interventions that may improve birth outcomes. Lastly, we outline some priorities for future research that could bring us one step closer to reducing this health burden.

Risk of malaria in young children after periconceptional iron supplementation

This study in Burkina Faso investigated whether offspring of young mothers who had received weekly periconceptional iron supplementation in a randomised controlled trial were at increased risk of malaria. A child safety survey was undertaken in the peak month of malaria transmission towards the end of the trial to assess child iron biomarkers, nutritional status, anaemia and malaria outcomes. Antenatal iron biomarkers, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and placental pathology for malaria and chorioamnionitis were assessed. Data were available for 180 babies surviving to the time of the survey when their median age was 9 months. Prevalence of maternal iron deficiency in the last trimester based on low body iron stores was 16%. Prevalence of active placental malaria infection was 24.8%, past infection 59% and chorioamnionitis 55.6%. Babies of iron supplemented women had lower median gestational age. Four out of five children ≥ 6 months were iron deficient, and 98% were anaemic. At 4 months malaria prevalence was 45%. Child iron biomarkers, anaemia and malaria outcomes did not differ by trial arm. Factors associated with childhood parasitaemia were third trimester C-reactive protein level (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.1-3.9), active placental malaria (OR 5.8; 1.0-32.5, P = 0.042) and child body iron stores (OR 1.13; 1.04-1.23, P = 0.002). Chorioamnionitis was associated with reduced risk of child parasitaemia (OR 0.4; 0.1-1.0, P = 0.038). Periconceptional iron supplementation of young women did not alter body iron stores of their children. Higher child body iron stores and placental malaria increased risk of childhood parasitaemia.