Clinical and Diagnostic Dimensions of Plasmodium Infection during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

Clinical and Diagnostic Dimensions of Plasmodium sp. Infection during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Plasmodium infection during pregnancy is a complex phenomenon that poses significant clinical and research challenges. A thorough understanding of the clinical features and laboratory findings is now vital to enhance preventive measures. The aim of the research was to describe the clinical and diagnostic dimensions of Plasmodium infection during pregnancy. A descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study was carried out using a documentary design. For the bibliographic review, information was obtained from the following databases: MEDLINE, ScienceDirect and LILACS, taking into consideration the terms MESH: “Plasmodium”; “Pregnant woman”; “Malaria” Plasmodium diagnosis, when the English databases were available, in addition to the use of Boolean operators by which the search was refined, including articles published in the last 6 years under inclusion and exclusion criteria. Fourteen articles were registered in the qualitative synthesis that show the need to investigate through complementary diagnostic tests described complications that could put the life of the mother and fetus at risk, as well as to know the aspects that influence the diagnosis and that depend on the characteristics of the population, geographical area and symptomatology, in addition to knowing the suitable diagnostic tests according to each case, RT-PCR being the suitable confirmation test for the diagnosis and surveillance of malaria due to its sensitivity, detecting low-density infections and mixed infections that are not detected by rapid tests and microscopy. It is important to constantly update health personnel and promote research in the area, as well as to raise public awareness, so great efforts are needed in the field of malaria prevention during pregnancy.