Clinical Predictors of Malaria, Acute Bacterial Meningitis and Treatment Outcomes among Febrile Children Admitted with Altered Mental Status in Northwestern Tanzania
Material type:
TextSeries: Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, Volume 64, Issue 5Publication details: Mwanza, Tanzania Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences CUHAS - Bugando 30 November 2017Description: Pages 426–433Summary: ABSTRACT
Background
Malaria and acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) are the leading infectious causes of febrile encephalopathy in malaria endemic settings. The clinical distinction of the two conditions is complicated by overlap in clinical features.
Objective
To determine the clinical predictors for malaria, ABM and treatment outcome in febrile children aged 2 months to 12 years with altered mentation at two tertiary hospitals in Northwestern Tanzania.
Methods
Prospective study of 103 children to document demographic data and physical examination findings, such as level of consciousness and meningeal irritations. Laboratory results for cerebrospinal fluid, hemoglobin, malaria and HIV were also evaluated.
Results
Age >60 months and hemoglobin ≤5 g/dl were independent predictors of malaria; (p = 0.013 and 0.004, respectively). HIV infection was the only predictor of meningitis, p = 0.037, and mortality was high if the diagnosis was unconfirmed.
Conclusions
Children with febrile encephalopathy are more likely to have malaria than ABM if they have severe anemia.
Keyword: malaria, meningitis, febrile encephalopathy, coma
Topic: bacterial; meningitis; meningitis; fever; malaria; tanzania; treatment; outcome; encephalopathy
| Item type | Current library | Collection | Status | Barcode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RESEARCH ARTICLES | MWALIMU NYERERE LEARNING RESOURCES CENTRE-CUHAS BUGANDO | NFIC | 2 | RA0189 |
ABSTRACT
Background
Malaria and acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) are the leading infectious causes of febrile encephalopathy in malaria endemic settings. The clinical distinction of the two conditions is complicated by overlap in clinical features.
Objective
To determine the clinical predictors for malaria, ABM and treatment outcome in febrile children aged 2 months to 12 years with altered mentation at two tertiary hospitals in Northwestern Tanzania.
Methods
Prospective study of 103 children to document demographic data and physical examination findings, such as level of consciousness and meningeal irritations. Laboratory results for cerebrospinal fluid, hemoglobin, malaria and HIV were also evaluated.
Results
Age >60 months and hemoglobin ≤5 g/dl were independent predictors of malaria; (p = 0.013 and 0.004, respectively). HIV infection was the only predictor of meningitis, p = 0.037, and mortality was high if the diagnosis was unconfirmed.
Conclusions
Children with febrile encephalopathy are more likely to have malaria than ABM if they have severe anemia.
Keyword: malaria, meningitis, febrile encephalopathy, coma
Topic: bacterial; meningitis; meningitis; fever; malaria; tanzania; treatment; outcome; encephalopathy
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