Poorly Treated Malaria in Pregnancy Can Endanger Unborn Babies, Doctors Warn
Malaria can be dangerous for unborn babies if it is not treated properly during pregnancy, as it may limit the amount of oxygen and nutrients available for the baby’s development, according to doctors.
Malaria can lead to foetal growth restriction, low birth weight, premature birth and, in severe cases, foetal death, said maternal health experts.
This warning is of special concern in Nigeria where malaria is a significant public health problem and pregnant women and young children are at high risk of developing severe disease.
Professor Aniekan Abasiattai, an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist at the University of Uyo, said that some immunity against malaria is lost during pregnancy, thereby making the pregnant woman more susceptible to severe malaria infection.
Malaria parasites can also get trapped in the placenta and disrupt the flow of oxygen and nutrients from mother to baby, he explained. This can limit foetal growth and lead to low birth weight.
Malaria may also lead to anaemia, which will further limit the amount of oxygen available to the developing baby, and the risk of complications.
Malaria cannot be taken lightly as a common disease in pregnancy, Dr Olanrewaju Jimoh, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, cautioned.
Malaria parasites can cause inflammation in the placenta and, though rare, can cross the placenta and result in congenital malaria, he said.
The experts emphasized that from a child protection point of view, children are protected before they are born. By receiving timely antenatal care, early diagnosis, and proper treatment and recommended preventive medication, unborn babies can be protected from preventable complications associated with malaria.
