Neonatal malaria confusing as sepsis: case report and literature review, Afar, Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Malaria is an acute and chronic vector born protozoa disease with high mortality and morbidity in low- and middle-income countries.  It is uncommon to see malaria by neonatal age for some physiologic protective reasons.
Case presentation: A case 9 days old female neonate presented with high grade fever, decreased suckling and limb activity. For which neonatal sepsis was considered and started initially with intravenous antibiotics and referred for no improvement later detected to have malaria. We report this case for its diagnostic challenge and its rarity.
Conclusion: We recommend taking blood smear as part of initial work up in patients with high grade fever not responding to initial management in areas of high malaria burden. Newborns with unexplained fever and refusal to feed in malaria endemic areas should be tested for malaria.