Malaria in infants

Of the estimated one million annual deaths from malaria, approximately 80% occur in young African children.

Infants are vulnerable to malaria from approximately 3 months of age, when immunity acquired from the mother starts to wane.

In areas of intense malaria transmission, most cases of severe malarial anaemia, blood transfusions, and deaths occur in infants and young children. Severe anaemia probably accounts for more than half of all childhood deaths from malaria in Africa, with case fatality rates in hospital of between 8-18%.

Prevention is clearly of critical importance, and the targeted delivery of interventions to prevent malaria and anaemia in high-risk groups (pregnant women, infants and young children) would be an appropriate use of limited financial and human resources.