Knowlesi Malaria in Children

Abstract

Abstract: The fifth malaria parasite causing human malaria- Plasmodium knowlesi (Pk), is not a newly emergent species but was an undiagnosed species before availability of molecular methods as diagnostic tool and was often confused with morphologically similar human malaria parasite P. malariae or P. falciparum. Now it is well distributed species in South-east Asia especially in Malaysia. Since the year 2004, cases of Pk malaria are continuously being reported in adults. Though adult age, forest related activities and recent visit to forested area are well known factors, but childhood did not remain untouched with this disease. Few researches and reports that are available in literature indicate, though the infection in children is uncomplicated, but this may be attributed to scarcity of data and researches in the field. Even cases of Pk malaria in pregnant women and infants are being reported, so this indicates that the problem is not only confined to well-known factors related to the disease but we should think out of the box and take actions before the disease takes the form of significant health burden on human population as vivax and falciparum species did in the past. With the reports of Pk malaria in pregnancy and early infancy, possibility of congenital and neonatal malaria also can’t be denied of. So more and more researches are needed in future to know the clear picture of Pk malaria in pediatric population. So this review covers the problem status, demographic profile, clinical and hematological features, diagnosis, management and outcome of Pk malaria in children worldwide. This review also discusses the gaps in our knowledge in the field of real problem status, prevention, control, diagnosis and management of Pk malaria pertaining particularly to this age group.