[Blackwater fever in children during cerebral malaria: 3 case reports in Bamako].
BACKGROUND
Blackwater fever is a rare but serious form of malaria in children. Diagnosis relies on clinical symptoms and on the color of the urines.


OBJECTIVE
To describe blackwater fever in children, a disease whose prevalence seems to be increasing.


METHODS
We report 3 cases of blackwater fever observed in our institution.


RESULTS
In 2 cases, acute renal insufficiency with oligoanuria was observed. In all the 3 cases, treatment with quinine was stopped and replaced by injectable artemether. Evolution was dependent on renal function, and included in 1 patient neurological sequels consisting in aphasia.


CONCLUSIONS
Blackwater fever is a severe affection whose diagnosis should be evoked using the color of urine. Evolution is usually favorable in the pediatric population, when adequate care can be provided.
Oumar
A A
AA
Département d'épidémiologie des affections parasitaires, faculty of medicine, pharmacy and odontostomatology, BP 1805, Bamako, Mali. alabmai@yahoo.fr
Poudiougou
B
B
Sylla
M
M
Sall
A
A
Konate
S
S
Togo
B
B
Diakite
M
M
Keita
M M
MM
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077549:Artemether; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001742:Blackwater Fever / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali; D009846:Oliguria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D000077549:Artemether