A case of congenital Plasmodium vivax malaria from a temperate region in central China (Malaria Journal)

In February 2011, a rare case of congenital Plasmodium vivax malaria was diagnosed in atemperate region of Central China. An infant developed intermittent fever 20 days afterdelivery. Since this occurred during the non-transmission winter season in a low malariaendemic region and the infant`s mother did not have a clear malaria history or showedmalaria symptoms at the time of the delivery, malaria infection was not suspected at thebeginning. Later, on suspicion of potential malignant haematological illness due topersistence of the fever, bone marrow smear was examined, which revealed infection by P.vivax parasite. This rare case of congenital vivax malaria underlines that malaria diagnosismight need to be included in the healthcare of neonates born in vivax-endemic areas.