1.

THALASSEMIA

EFFECT IN PREGNANCY

- IF BOTH PARENTS ARE CARRIERS (EACH HAS ATLEAST ONE MUTATED GENE)
FOR BETA THALASSEMIA, THERE IS A:
 25% CHANCE OF THEIR BABIES HAVE THE DISEASE
 50% CHANCE THEIR BABIES ARE CARRIERS OF THE DISEASE
 25% CHANCE THEIR BABIES DON’T HAVE THE DIASES OR THE GENE
 IN RARE CIRCUMSTANCES, BETATHALASSEMIA CAN BE PASSED TO A
CHILD IF ONLY ONE PARTNER HAS THE GENE
 THE STRESS OF PREGNANCY CAN MAKE THE SYMPTOMS OF
THALASSEMIA WORSE AND CAUSE COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS:
 ANEMIA
 STRESS ON THE HEART

PREVENTION/TREATMENT

 WHETHER YOU HAVE THALASSAEMIA OR ARE A CARRIER, YOUR DOCTOR WILL

ADVISE YOU TO TAKE 5MG OF FOLIC ACID DAILY THROUGHOUT YOUR
PREGNANCY. THIS IS BECAUSE THALASSAEMIA MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF
YOUR BABY DEVELOPING A NEURAL TUBE DEFECT, SUCH AS SPINA BIFIDA.
TAKING A HIGH DOSE OF FOLIC ACID DAILY REDUCES THE RISK
 PREGNANIES AFFECTED BY THALASSAEMIA NEED TO BE TREATED AS HIGH-
RISK AND SHOULD INVOLVE A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM WITH OBSTETRIC
AND HAEMATOLOGY SPECIALISTS TO MANAGE IT PROPERLY. CURRENTLY,
THERE IS NO ESTABLISHED EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDANCE FOR TREATING THIS
CONDITION IN PREGNANCY.
2. MALARIA

 IS A PROTOZOAN INFECTION THAT IS TRANSMITTED TO PEOPLE BY

ANOPHELES MOSQUITOES
 THE INFECTION CAUSED RED BLOOD CELLS TO STICK TO THE SURFACE OF
CAPILLARIES CAUSING OBSTRUCTION OF THESE VESSELS. THIS CAN RESULT
IN END ORGAN ANOXIA WHEN BLOOD CAN NOT REACH ORGANS EFFECTIVELY.

EFFECT

 IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER DURING PREGNANCY AS IT CAN BE

TRANSMITTED TO A FETUS BY MOTHER-TO-FETUS TRANSMISSION

PREVENTION

 MALARIA CAN BE PREVENTED BY WEARING CLOTHING THAT COVERS MOST OF

THE BODY AND USING AN INSECT REPELLENT WHEN IN AREA INFESTED WITH
MOSQUITOES, SLEEPING AT NIGHT WITH MOSQUITO NETS, OR KEEPING
WINDOWS CLOSED TO PREVENT MOSQUITOES FROM ENTERING
 DELAY TRAVEL TO ENDEMIC AREAS UNTIL AFTER PREGNANCY IF POSSIBLE

TREATMENT

 ANTI-MALARIA DRUGS
 CHLOROQUINE IS SAFE TO ADMINISTER DURING ALL TRIMESTERS OF
PREGNANCY SO IT IS THE DRUG OF CHOICE.
 SULFADOXINEPYRIMETHAMINE MAY BE ADMINISTERED DURING THE LAST
TRIMESTER
 HOWEVER, QUININE, MALARONE, OR TETRACYCLINES SHOULD NOT BE
USED AT ANY POINT IN PREGNANCY OR WITH WOMEN WHO ARE
BREASTFEEDING. ANTIMALARIAL THERAPY MAY ALSO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE
OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND PRETERM BIRTH.