Mary A., 1

Mary is a one-month-old baby and the first and only child of a single mother. She lives with her mother, grandmother and maternal relatives in a two-room mud-walled house without electricity. Her grandmother depends on small-scale farming, while her mother relies on occasional casual jobs to contribute towards the family’s basic needs. Mary had been unwell for two days, with her mother reporting persistent fever, excessive crying, refusal to breastfeed and repeated vomiting of feeds. She became increasingly irritable, weak and difficult to feed, causing significant concern given her very young age. Although her mother had previously heard about Helpster Charity from neighbours, she initially could not take Mary to hospital because she had no transport money. As the baby’s condition worsened, she asked a neighbour with a motorcycle to take them to the hospital on the promise that she would pay later. On arrival, Mary was febrile, visibly ill and required prompt medical assessment and treatment.

Mary, a one-month-old infant, was diagnosed with severe malaria and septicaemia after presenting with fever, persistent vomiting, poor breastfeeding, excessive crying and a very ill appearance. At this young age, both conditions are potentially life-threatening and can rapidly lead to hypoglycaemia, severe anaemia, shock, seizures or organ dysfunction. Urgent admission, appropriate antimalarial and antibiotic therapy, supportive care and close monitoring are essential. With prompt treatment and good clinical response, her prognosis is cautiously favourable.