title: Clinical and laboratory features of severe and complicated falciparum malaria the experience from Gonder Hospital.
abstract: Over a period of 6 months in 1988, 104 patients with severe and complicated falciparum malaria were admitted to the Gonder College Hospital (GCH), Gonder, Ethiopia; 85 male (81.7%) and 19 female (18.3%). The age ranged between 14 and 70 years with a mean age of 31 years. Eighty-one patients (78.3%) had moved from a nonendemic to a malariaendemic area shortly before their illness. Altered state of consciousness, hyperparasitaemia and severe anaemia were the most frequent complications found. Fifty-three patients (51.0%) died. Non-immune status and unknown duration of symptoms were significantly associated with mortality. Among those who died, comatose state on admission, hyperparasitaemia and acute renal failure were more frequently seen. Forty-six (86.8%) had developed two or more complications and 15 (28.3%) had superimposed bacterial infections. Inadequate preventive measures and treatment facilities may be two important factors accounting for the high mortality.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Endeshaw
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seyoum
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amanuel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum; D011803:Quinine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D002738:Chloroquine; D011803:Quinine