Epidemiology of cerbral malaria and its mortality

ABSTRACT

Over the past 5 years, 1620 comatosed patients of both sexes aged 1-75 years were screened for cerebral malaria. Of these, 505 [31.2%] were positive for Plasmodium falciparum. During this period frequency of malaria increased from 22.1% in 1991 to 44.4% in 1995. Sixty-four% cases of cerebral malaria were seen in children and thirty-six% in adults. Mortality was also higher [41%] in children than in adults [25%]. As cerebral malaria is particularly prevalent in Pakistan and is a major community problem, accurate and easier methods of its diagnosis are needed at primary health care level, in all febrile comatose patients, without focal neurological findings: