Table 2.

Signs of severe P. falciparum malaria in adults.^7,12

One or more of the following criteria without an identified alternative cause: •Impaired consciousness (Glasgow coma score < 11) or seizures •Renal impairment (creatinine > 265 μmol/L or urine output <0.4 mL/kg/h) •Acidosis (pH < 7.3) •Hypoglycaemia (< 2.2 mmol/L) •Pulmonary oedema or acute respiratory distress syndrome •Anaemia (haemoglobin ≤80 g/L) •Spontaneous bleeding or disseminated intravascular coagulation •Shock (blood pressure < 90/60 mmHg) •Haemoglobinuria (without glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency) •Parasitaemia > 10%+

⁺In a UK setting, consider managing any patient with a parasitaemia of >2% as severe malaria.