Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Data were prospectively collected on 306 Kenyan children, including blood gases in 258 (75%). Severe malaria caused a predominantly high-anion-gap metabolic acidosis in at least 43% of children. Children with coma and respiratory distress (CM + RD) had greater evidence of renal dysfunction, lower mean pH and higher mean plasma osmolality than those with respiratory distress (RD) or coma (CM) as isolated findings (mean urea 10.7 vs. 6.0 vs. 4.3 mmol/l; mean creatinine 97 vs. 74 vs. 58 mumol/l; mean osmolality 301 vs. 288 vs. 283 mosmol/l; and mean pH 7.16 vs. 7.29 vs. 7.39, respectively, p < 0.001 for each comparison of CM + RD vs. RD or CM). In addition, children with CM + RD had a higher mean blood lactate (6.7 vs. 3.3 mmol/l, p < 0.001), a lower mean haemoglobin (5.5 vs. 7.0 g/dl, p = 0.002) and a lower mean age (26.4 vs. 41.9 months, p < 0.001) than children with CM and accounted for 15/24 (63%) of all deaths. These and previous data implicate hypovolaemia and renal impairment in the pathogenesis of metabolic acidosis in severe childhood malaria. In children who are acidotic, anaemia is strongly associated with lactic acidaemia and may therefore contribute to its pathogenesis. These data also imply that coma in acidotic children (CM + RD) and those with an isolated encephalopathy (CM) may result from quite different pathophysiological mechanisms.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/qjmed/90.4.263

Type

Journal article

Journal

QJM

Publication Date

04/1997

Volume

90

Pages

263 - 270

Keywords

Acidosis, Age Factors, Child, Preschool, Coma, Female, Hemoglobins, Humans, Infant, Lactic Acid, Malaria, Cerebral, Malaria, Falciparum, Male, Prospective Studies, Respiratory Insufficiency, Risk Factors, Treatment Outcome