Congenital malaria in a preterm neonate: Case report and review of the literature

Congenital malaria occurs infrequently in endemic areas and is even more uncommon in the United States. Although more than 300 cases of congenital malaria have been reported, only four reports describing this disease in preterm infants exist in the English-language literature. We report the first case of congenital malaria in an extremely low-birth-weight infant born in the United States. The maternal history and clinical findings and treatment of this infant are discussed and a summary of the prior reported cases is provided as aids to the early identification and management of infants with congenital malaria. The diagnosis of congenital malaria should be considered in infants with suspected congenital infection who are born to mothers with a history of even remote travel to endemic areas.