Congenital Plasmodium vivax malaria mimicking neonatal sepsis: a case report

Although malaria in pregnancy can cause very significant neonatal morbidity, congenital malaria is a very rare condition in both endemic and non-endemic areas. A case of congenital malaria by Plasmodium vivax, initially mistaken for neonatal sepsis, is described. The correct diagnosis was accidentally done, as congenital malaria had been missed in the initial differential diagnosis

Highly Effective Therapy for Maternal Malaria Associated With a Lower Risk of Vertical Transmission

Background. The epidemiology of congenital malaria was investigated in a hospital-based malaria surveillance study in Papua, Indonesia

Impact of Inconsistent Policies for Transfusion-Transmitted Malaria on Clinical Practice in Ghana

Background: Policies concerning the prevention of transfusion transmitted malaria (TTM) are the responsibility of blood transfusion services and malaria control programmes. To prevent spreading drug resistance due to over-use of malaria drugs, recent malaria treatment guidelines recommend prompt parasitological confirmation before treatment is started. In contrast, blood safety policies from the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend presumptive malaria treatment for recipients of blood in endemic countries but evidence supporting this approach is lacking. Our study documented how these conflicting policies relating to malaria transmission through blood transfusion impact on clinical practice in a teaching hospital in West Africa. Methods/Principal Findings: We randomly selected and reviewed case notes of 151 patients within 24 hours of their receiving a blood transfusion. Transfusion practices including the confirmation of diagnosis and anti-malarial treatment given were compared across three departments; Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G), Paediatrics and Medicine. Overall, 66 (44%) of patients received malaria treatment within 24 hrs of their blood transfusion; of which only 2 (3%) received antimalarials based on a laboratory confirmation of malaria. Paediatric patients (87%) received the most anti-malarials and only 7 % and 24 % of recipients in medicine and O&G respectively received anti malarials. In 51 patients (78%), the anti-malarials were prescribed at the same time as the blood transfusion and anti-malarials prescriptions exceeded the number of patient

Probable horizontal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in an asymptomatic neonate: A case report

Horizontal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is the more likely mode of transmission in this neonate rather than vertical transmission. Neonates are more  likely to be asymptomatic carriers of SARSCoV- 2 therefore health care workers should observe strict infection control practices, like hand hygiene and use of PPE (including face shield) during all clinical encounters. Parents may not provide a history suggestive of COVID-19 clinical symptoms in the family members, unless specifically asked for. We report a case of SARS-CoV-2 in an asymptomatic neonate who presented to the outpatient  clinic of a private multispecialty hospital for routine follow up. The hospital caters for approximately 5000 deliveries per year with pediatric inpatient and outpatient facilities, neonatal intensive care unit with facilities for advanced respiratory support, therapeutic cooling, with supporting radiology and full laboratory services

Prenatal diagnosis of colpocephaly with absent corpus callosum

Colpocephaly is a rare abnormality of the brain, described as persistence of primitive foetal configuration of lateral ventricles. It has been found in association with several abnormalities of the brain. Herein we report a case of colpocephaly with absent corpus callosum, confirmed antenatally with foetal MRI following diagnostic suspicion based on absent septum pellucidum at prenatal sonography

Prenatal diagnosis of colpocephaly with absent corpus callosum

Colpocephaly is a rare abnormality of the brain, described as persistence of primitive foetal configuration of lateral ventricles. It has been found in association with several abnormalities of the brain. Herein we report a case of colpocephaly with absent corpus callosum, confirmed antenatally with foetal MRI following diagnostic suspicion based on absent septum pellucidum at prenatal sonography

Myoclonic seizures in a preterm baby: is this a presentation of venlafaxine withdrawal?

Venlafaxine, a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is increasingly used in pregnant women with pre-existing depression who require continued treatment. However, its in utero effects on the developing fetus are not clear. Herein, we report the unusual presentation of venlafaxine withdrawal in a female preterm baby of 29 weeks gestation, who presented with myoclonic seizures on her second day of life. The seizures were confirmed using amplitude-integrated electroencephalography, and other possible causes of neonatal seizures were excluded. The baby responded to treatment with phenobarbitone and phenytoin. Magnetic resonance imaging of her brain was unremarkable at corrected gestational age of 39 weeks and 2 days. On follow-up at the corrected age of five months, she was well and developing normally with no further seizures. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of seizures in a preterm baby resulting from maternal venlafaxine use

Multiple brain abscesses in an infant: a case report

Brain abscess is rare in infancy and potentially life threatening. This report emphasises the importance of monitoring the head circumference at post neonatal outpatient follow up. An ex-preterm baby who was treated successfully for staphylococcus aureus septicaemia and skin abscess in the neonatal period represented at the age of 13 weeks (corrected gestation 41 weeks) with gradual enlargement of the head size. A diagnosis of multiple staphylococcus aureus brain abscesses was made. She was treated with systemic antibiotics and aspiration of abscess in the frontal lobe, and made satisfactory recovery. At 4 years of age she developed status epilepticus and currently has left sided hemiparesis and focal seizures. Early diagnosis and prompt management of cerebral abscess may avoid the need for surgical intervention. We recommend monitoring of head circumference and determination of the cause of any deviation from normal centiles particularly in infants treated for septicaemia