Table 2.

Safety outcomes observed in children with malaria after administration of intramuscular or rectal quinine

Outcomes	Rectal group (n=450)	% (95% CI)	Intramuscular group (n=448)	% (95% CI)
Rectal side effects:
Presence of blood in stools*	21	5 (3 to 7)	3	1 (0 to 1)
Blood in stools	4	1 (0 to 2)	0	0
Blood striation†	17	4 (2 to 5)	3	1 (0 to 1)
At least one abnormal stool‡	357	79 (76 to 83)	50	11 (8 to 14)
Soft stools	105	23 (19 to 27)	24	5 (3 to 7)
Liquid stools (<3 per day)	105	23 (19 to 27)	23	5 (3 to 7)
Diarrhoea (≥3 stools per day)§	21	5 (3 to 6)	5	1 (0 to 2)
Mucoid stools	296	66 (61 to 70)	22	5 (3 to 7)
Painful anal sphincter contraction and tenesmus	46	10 (7 to 13)	2	0.4 (0 to 1)
Isolated painful anal sphincter contraction	19	4 (2 to 6)	1	0.2 (0 to 1)
Isolated tenesmus	10	2 (1 to 4)	1	0.2 (0 to 1)
Anal pruritus	2	0.4 (0 to 1)	1	0.2 (0 to 1)
Intramuscular side effects:
Local inflammation of gluteus muscle	0		355	79 (75 to 83)
Impaired mobility	0		68	15 (12 to 18)
Decreased hip mobility	0		9	2 (0 to 3)
Leg paraesthesia	0		1	0.2 (0 to 1)
Pain during or after administration¶	9	2 (0 to 3)	404	90 (87 to 92)
Abscess	1	0.2 (0 to 1)	2	0.4 (0 to 1)

^*Absolute difference 3.9% (95% confidence interval 2% to 6%), P<0.001.

^†Absolute difference 3.1% (1% to 5%), P=0.001.

^‡Absolute difference 68.1% (62% to 75%), P<0.001.

^§Absolute difference 3.5% (1% to 6%), P=0.001.

^¶Intramuscular v rectal: absolute difference 88.1% (85% to 91%), P<0.001.