Table 1.
Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of children admitted with severe malaria
| Variable | Value for children with severe malaria (n = 75) |
|---|---|
| Median age (yr) (range) | 2.4 (0.33–8.1) |
| Median wt (kg) (range) | 11 (5.5–27) |
| Median wt-for-age Z score (range) | −1.0 (−4.1–1.0) |
| No. (%) of patients with: | |
| Coma | 27 (36) |
| Prostration | 46 (61) |
| Convulsions | 34 (45) |
| Shocka | 16 (21) |
| Respiratory distress | 7 (9) |
| Acidosis (base excess of <8 mmol/liter) | 32 (46) |
| Hypoglycemia (glucose level of <3 mmol/liter) | 18 (24) |
| Anemia | 27 (36) |
| Black water fever | 7 (9) |
| Median axillary temp (°C) (range) | 38.2 (35.4–41.8) |
| Median heart rate (beats/min) (range) | 154 (98–202) |
| Median respiratory rate (breaths/min) (range) | 50 (24–98) |
| Median glucose level (mg/dl) (range) | 95 (15–240) |
| Median blood urea nitrogen level (mg/dl) (range) | 13 (4–97) |
| Median hemoglobin level (g/dl) (range) | 7.1 (2.6–13.2) |
| Median pH (range) | 7.36 (7.28–7.42) |
| Median HCO3 level (mmol/liter) (range) | 17.8 (3.5–25.6) |
| Median base excess (mmol/liter) (range) | −8 (−28–2) |
| Median AST level (U/liter) (range) | 85 (7–3,180) |
| Median ALT level (U/liter) (range) | 22 (3–1,490) |
| Median total bilirubin level (μmol/liter) (range) | 38 (5–250) |
| No. (%) of HIV-positive patients | 5 (6.7) |
| Geometric mean parasitemia level (parasites/μl) (95% CI) | 31,900 (17,300–58,900) |
| Geometric mean plasma PfHRP2 level (ng/ml) (95% CI) | 2,070 (1,470–2,900) |
a
Compensated and decompensated shock combined.