Epidemiology of cerebral malaria and its mortality.
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 percent cases of cerebral malaria were seen in children and thirty-six percent 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.
Durrani
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Department of Medicine, Bolan Medical College, Quetta.
Durrani
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Abbas
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Jabeen
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence