NEONATAL MALARIA IN A MESOENDEMIC MALARIA AREA OF

Background: Though neonatal infections are most common reason for admissions in the newborn in Nigeria, Neonatal Malaria, which was thought to be uncommon, is becoming increasingly reported in areas of malaria hyperendemicity. These reports have described not only malaria parasitaemia in these babies, but also some symptoms attributable to malaria. There are no known documented clinical studies in areas of malaria mesoendemicity, which also have high prevalence of neonatal infections. Method: As a preliminary investigation to document the incidence of neonatal malaria in a mesoendemic area, as well as identify possible risk factors for its occurrence, a prospective study was carried out in the special care baby unit of ABU Teaching Hospital, Kaduna Nigeria, over a one year period (December 2001- November 2002). As part of the investigations for evaluation of sick neonates admitted into the unit, thick and thin blood films stained with Giemsa stain were examined for malaria parasite using standard techniques. Specie identification and quantification were carried out. Results: Of the 206 children tested, there was positive malaria parasitaemia in 17 (8.25%). Only P. falciparum malaria was identified. There were no mixed infections. Parasite density varied between 1,000 –20,000 asexual forms/µL. Analysis revealed a strong association between neonatal malaria and maternal genital infections (O