Dengue and Malaria in Pregnancy: Prevention, Risks, and Safety Tips

Why Mosquito-Borne Illnesses Matter More in PregnancyA sudden high fever, shaking chills, or unexplained body aches during pregnancy is never just uncomfortable. It can be dangerous. Your immune system naturally lowers its guard during pregnancy to allow the baby to grow. While this helps protect your baby from rejection, it also makes you more vulnerable to infections like dengue and malaria.



What makes these illnesses particularly concerning is how quickly they can spiral:

• Maternal complications: Severe dehydration, anaemia, and in some cases, seizures or haemorrhage.
• Foetal risks: Miscarriage, preterm labour, low birth weight, stillbirth.
• Limited treatment options: Many medicines used for malaria or to reduce fever are unsafe in pregnancy, leaving fewer choices once illness begins.

In India, the monsoon season triggers a sharp rise in both dengue and malaria. Outbreaks are reported every year across urban metros like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, as well as rural districts in Odisha, Jharkhand, and Assam. For pregnant women, this seasonal surge demands extra caution.



How Dengue and Malaria SpreadIt can take just one bite, sometimes while you step out to hang laundry, or when you leave your balcony door open in the evening.

Dengue

• Spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
• These mosquitoes bite during the day.
• They breed in clean stagnant water such as buckets, flower pots, rooftop tanks, or discarded tyres.

Malaria

• Spread by Anopheles mosquitoes.
• They bite at night.
• They breed in dirty, stagnant water, puddles, drains, and marshy areas.

Pregnancy lowers your ability to fight infections. Even what might appear as a mild case in a non-pregnant adult can escalate faster when you’re expecting.



Red Flag Symptoms You Should Not IgnoreIf you experience any of these, seek urgent medical care and request a blood test:

• High fever that does not improve with paracetamol.
• Severe body pain or headache, especially behind the eyes.
• Bleeding gums, nosebleeds, or unexplained bruises (classic warning signs of severe dengue).
• Chills and sweating in cycles, often seen in malaria.
• Persistent vomiting or abdominal pain.
• Reduced fetal movements or sudden uterine contractions.

Early recognition is vital. Delays in testing and treatment are a key reason maternal and neonatal outcomes worsen.



How Dengue and Malaria Are DiagnosedYour doctor will confirm the illness through specific lab tests:

Dengue

• NS1 antigen test (best in the first 5 days of fever).
• IgM/IgG antibody tests (positive later in the course).
• Platelet counts, which may drop significantly.

Malaria

• Peripheral blood smear (examining red blood cells under a microscope).
• Rapid antigen tests for faster results.

These tests may not always pick up the infection in the very early stage, which is why repeat testing is often necessary if symptoms persist. Self-medicating with antibiotics or strong painkillers is unsafe in pregnancy and can mask symptoms without treating the disease.



Everyday Prevention: How to Stay Ahead of the BiteYou cannot eliminate mosquitoes entirely, but you can reduce your exposure and stop them from breeding near you.

Mosquito-proof your surroundings

• Install nets and window screens.
• Empty and scrub water storage containers weekly.
• Change water in flower vases or bird baths every other day.
• Cover rooftop tanks and ensure drains are not clogged.

Personal protection

• Use pregnancy-safe repellents. DEET and picaridin in concentrations up to 30% are considered safe when applied to exposed skin in pregnancy. Apply only on skin not covered by clothes, and wash off once indoors.
• Wear light-coloured, full-sleeved, breathable clothes. Cotton and linen are best as they cover you while reducing sweating and rashes.
• Avoid being outdoors during peak mosquito hours. Dengue mosquitoes bite in daylight, malaria mosquitoes at dusk and night.

Community action

• Encourage your housing society or panchayat to conduct fogging and larvicide spraying.
• Report stagnant water to municipal authorities. Community-level clean-up is often more effective than individual effort.

Travel precautions

• If you visit rural or forested areas, carry insecticide-treated bed nets.
• Keep repellents handy during road or train travel, especially in monsoon months.
  
  

India-Specific RealitiesIndia faces a double burden: urban dengue outbreaks and rural malaria hotspots. Pregnant women in slum settlements or villages with poor drainage face a higher risk due to a lack of sanitation and healthcare access.

• Dengue cases peak post-monsoon in cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
• Malaria is more common in states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand, though cases are also reported in metros during the rains.
• The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) runs seasonal campaigns, but local awareness remains the most effective tool.

Pregnancy complicates both illnesses. Managing them often requires a joint team of an obstetrician and an infectious disease physician.



Pregnancy adds an extra layer of vulnerability to illnesses like dengue and malaria, which are already difficult to manage even in healthy adults. While you cannot control the mosquito population around you entirely, you can control your exposure, your surroundings, and how quickly you respond to warning signs. In pregnancy, vigilance against mosquito-borne disease is not about paranoia. It is about survival, safety, and giving your baby the healthiest start possible.



Whether you’re pregnant, a new mom, or navigating postpartum, you don’t have to do it alone. Join our support group to connect, share, and support one another.



FAQs on Dengue and Malaria in Pregnancy: Prevention, Risks, and Safety Tips

Can dengue or malaria harm my baby?

Yes. Both can increase risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Malaria is also linked with severe maternal anaemia, which affects fetal growth.

Are mosquito repellents safe in pregnancy?

Yes, when used correctly. Repellents with DEET (up to 30%) or picaridin are considered safe. Apply only on exposed skin, avoid overuse, and wash off once indoors.

Should I take prophylactic medicines if I live in a high-risk area?

Not usually. Routine preventive medicines for malaria are not recommended in India unless prescribed by your doctor. Never start them on your own.

What should I do if there’s an outbreak in my city?

Increase protection; use nets, repellents, and avoid high-risk areas. Keep a thermometer and ORS at home. At the first sign of fever, get tested without delay.