A multipara with 34 weeks pregnancy tachycardia, fever, hepatospleenomegaly, pallor has :
**Core Concept**
Malaria in pregnancy is a significant concern, especially in regions with high transmission rates. It can lead to maternal and fetal complications, including anemia, jaundice, and preterm labor.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The presence of tachycardia, fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and pallor in a 34-week pregnant woman suggests an infection. Malaria is a leading cause of maternal anemia, especially in regions with high transmission rates. Plasmodium parasites infect red blood cells, leading to their destruction and subsequent anemia. The hepatosplenomegaly is due to the sequestration of infected red blood cells in the spleen.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option B:** Iron deficiency anemia is a common cause of anemia in pregnancy but does not explain the acute presentation with fever and hepatosplenomegaly.
**Option C:** Physiological anemia of pregnancy is a normal decrease in hemoglobin levels due to increased plasma volume. It does not cause fever or hepatosplenomegaly.
**Option D:** Megaloblastic anemia is caused by a deficiency in vitamin B12 or folate, leading to impaired DNA synthesis in red blood cells. It does not cause fever or hepatosplenomegaly.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Remember the "WHO criteria" for diagnosing malaria in pregnancy: fever plus any one of the following: hemoglobinuria, jaundice, hemoglobinuria, or hepatosplenomegaly.
**Correct Answer:**
✓ Correct Answer: A. Malaria.