clove and Jaundice

Few data are available about severe malaria in Madagascar. Our aims were to describe epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of severe malaria in patients in Antananarivo. We conducted a retrospective study from 1 March 2006 to 31 March 2008 at the infectious disease department. We recorded 61 cases of severe malaria among 1,803 in patients. Sex ratio was 2 and average age was 35.3 years old. Three pregnant women were recorded among women (15.8%). Self-medication was registered in 23%. Among 35 patients who received first medical care, no one had parasitological examination. The treatment was inadequate for all patients (n = 19). Conscience impairment (65.6%), jaundice (24.6%), seizure (18%) and prostration (14.8%) were the major severe signs. Diagnosis was made 6.54 days after the onset of the disease. Mortality rate was 11.5%. Self-medication, inappropriate primary care and delayed diagnosis represented risk factors for severe malaria in our cohort.

Topics: Adult; Antimalarials; Consciousness Disorders; Early Diagnosis; Female; Hospital Mortality; Hospitals, University; Hospitals, Urban; Humans; Jaundice; Madagascar; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Retrospective Studies; Seizures; Self Medication; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult