The physiological changes of pregnancy and the pathological changes due to malaria have a synergistic effect on the course of each other, thus making the life difficult for the mother, the child and the treating physician. P. falciparum malaria can run a turbulent and dramatic course in pregnant women. The non- immune, primigravidae are usually the most affected.
More common Malaria is more common in pregnancy compared to the general population.
Immuno suppression and loss of acquired immunity to malaria could be the causes. More atypical In pregnancy, malaria tends to be more atypical in presentation. This could be due to the hormonal , immunological and hematological changes of pregnancy. Due to the hormonal and immunological changes, the parasitemia tends to be 10 times higher and as a result, all the complications of falciparum malaria are more common in pregnancy compared to the non-pregnant population. Some anti malarials are contra indicated in pregnancy and some may cause severe adverse effects.