Congenital Malaria, an Important Differential Diagnosis to Consider When Evaluating Febrile Infants of Immigrant Mothers

Abstract

Congenital malaria is reported rarely in the United States and almost exclusively affects infants of immigrant mothers. Because of its nonspecific presentation with fever during the first 3 months of life, it is an important differential diagnosis when evaluating such infants with fever in the pediatric emergency department. A complete and accurate travel and residency history on the infant's family should be sought during evaluation. As intercontinental travel and immigration increases, emergency department physicians should be alert to the diagnosis of malaria in ill neonates and young infants. We discuss a case of congenital malaria in a 26-day-old infant and review the clinical features of previously reported cases in the United States.