Ruth A., 21

Mary is a newly married woman whose husband does casual construction work to support the family. She works as a hawker, selling bread on behalf of her employer. This is her first pregnancy. Mary dropped out of school in Class 8 due to financial difficulties and later moved to Nairobi to work as a domestic helper, where she eventually met her husband. She aspires to return to school and pursue her dream of becoming an Early Childhood Development (ECD) teacher. Mary had been in good health until she began experiencing sharp abdominal pain that gradually worsened in the lower abdomen. She also developed fever and chills, which made her believe she was going into labor, prompting her to seek medical attention. Upon admission, she was in pain, had a fever, and other systems appeared normal. She was only 32 weeks pregnant but had a cervical dilation of 6 cm, with the fetal heart rate recorded at 138 beats per minute. Lab tests were conducted, including hemoglobin levels, malaria parasite screening, random blood sugar, and urinalysis. Based on the results, she was diagnosed with malaria in pregnancy alongside a urinary tract infection. She was admitted to the hospital, placed on bed rest, and began treatment.

Ruth came to the hospital with complaints of lower abdominal pain, and was clinically febrile. Tests were run, and she was diagnosed with malaria and UTI in pregnancy. She was admitted for proper management. She received Artesunate medication and antibiotics for her infection. She responded well to this medication and was eventually discharged on oral medication, as she was not yet due for her delivery.

Malaria in pregnancy can lead to significant health risks for both the mother and the baby. Pregnant women are more susceptible to severe malaria complications and are also more likely to develop severe anaemia. The condition can lead to various complications, including premature birth, low birth weight, miscarriage, stillbirth, and even maternal death. The prognosis for urinary tract infections in pregnancy is generally good with proper treatment. However, untreated or inadequately treated UTIs can lead to serious complications for both the mother and the baby. To avoid these risks, the mother was admitted for parenteral medication