Clinical features and outcome in children with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although global malaria mortality is declining, estimates may not reflect better inpatient management of severe malaria (SM) where reported case fatality rates (CFRs) vary from 1-25%.

Methods

A meta-analysis of prospective studies of SM was conducted to examine i) whether hypothesized differences between clinical features and outcome in Melanesian compared with African or Asian children really exist, and ii) to explore temporal changes in overall and complication-specific CFRs. The proportions of different SM complications and, overall and complication-specific CFRs were incorporated into the meta-analysis. Adjustments were made for study-level covariates including geographic region, SM definition, artemisinin treatment, median age of participants and time period.

SUBMITTER: Manning L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3916300 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature