[Congenital malaria: clinical, parasitological and histological considerations. Apropos of 200 observations collected at the Lomé University Teaching Hospital and Kpalimé Hospital].

An evaluation was conducted of the usefulness of clinical, parasitological and histological parameters for the diagnosis of neonatal pathology due to congenital malaria. Haematozoa detected were invariably Plasmodium falciparum. Their presence in the placenta was considered essential to confirm congenital infection, but needed always to be accompanied by a positive diagnose of the same species in the mother, villous vessels, umbilical cord and peripheral blood of the newborn child. None of these was sufficient diagnosis alone. The existence of congenital malaria as a sickness in its own right appears unlikely, however, the indirect effects of maternal malaria on the foetus suggest prophylactic and individualised treatment is desirable for pregnant women.