title: Simplified multi-organ dysfunction score predicts disability in African children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
abstract: In this prospective study, we assessed the simplified multi-organ dysfunction score (sMODS) in 485 consecutive African children, hospitalized with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Children were grouped according to their ability to walk unaided (Group 1, N = 414), sit unaided (Group 2, N = 63), or inability of both (Group 3, N = 8) before contracting malaria. The sMODS on admission to hospital was highly correlated with prolonged disease duration in Groups 1 and 2 (Spearman r = 0.79 and r = 0.78, respectively). A sMODS of > or = 16 was indicative for prolonged disease duration in Group 1 (> 48 hours of inability to walk, sensitivity of 87%, specificity of 82%) and Group 2 (> 24 hours of inability to sit, sensitivity of 100%, and specificity of 78%.). The simplified MODS is a simple and sensitive measure merit of severity of illness in children with P. falciparum malaria and allows early prognostic evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. Raimund.Helbok@uklibk.ac.at
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Helbok
authors.forename: Saadou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Issifou
authors.forename: Pierre B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Matsiegui
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lackner
authors.forename: Michel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Missinou
authors.forename: Davy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kombila
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dent
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schmutzhard
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kremsner
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012720:Severity of Illness Index