Outcome of admitted malaria cases by treatment at Manicaland Provincial Hospital, Zimbabwe
Mahomva, A.I.; Peterson, D.E.; Rakata, L.
Central African Journal of Medicine 42(7): 202-205
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-9176 PMID: 8936785 Document Number: 460997
Objective: To determine the outcome of admitted malaria cases according to age, late presentation, and antimalarial drug treatments received. Design: We reviewed all March 1994 hospital and laboratory records of patients with a clinical diagnosis of malaria. Setting: Manicaland Provincial Hospital Subjects: 319 clinical malaria cases. Main Outcome Measures: Cases were classified as uncomplicated, complicated and unconscious. Results: of the 319 (52 pc) were complicated and 37 (21 pc) were unconscious; 22 (13 pc) died. Case fatality positive admissions, 91 (52 pc) were complicated and 37 (21 pc) were unconscious; 22 (13 pc) died. Case fatality was two pc in uncomplicated cases, six pc in complicated cases, and 46 pc in unconscious cases. Uncomplicated and complicated cases did as well on chloroquine (none of the 53 died) as on other treatments (four of the 76 died), whereas unconscious patients did poorly regardless of therapy received. Twelve patients received no therapy on their first hospital day and four died. There was no significant association between young age (age lt 5 years) and complications or death, nor between late presentation (illness onset gtoreq 3 days before hospital presentation) and complications or death.