Bottero J., Briand Valérie, Agbowai C., Doritchamou J., Massougbodji A., Cot Michel. (2011). Spontaneous postpartum clearance of Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia in pregnant women, Benin. Short report. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 84 (2), p. 267-269. ISSN 0002-9637.
Titre du document
Spontaneous postpartum clearance of Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia in pregnant women, Benin. Short report
Bottero J., Briand Valérie, Agbowai C., Doritchamou J., Massougbodji A., Cot Michel
Source
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2011,
84 (2), p. 267-269 ISSN 0002-9637
The question of malaria in the postpartum period is controversial. Malaria was investigated during a randomized trial of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy in Benin. Women infected at delivery were tested for parasitemia in the early postpartum period; they had not received treatment unless they were symptomatic. Among the 35 of 1,346 infected women, parasitologic follow-up results could not be interpreted in 15 because they were treated for symptoms, 18 cleared parasitemia spontaneously within five days postpartum, and 2 had a strong decrease in parasitemia before being treated. Because the placenta is the privileged site for sequestration of parasites, it facilitates their persistence during pregnancy, and its elimination may rapidly induce their clearance.
