Cerebral malaria in children: a retrospective study of admissions to Madang Hospital, 1980.

A review was undertaken of sixty-eight children admitted with cerebral malaria to Madang Hospital, Madang, Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1980. Children with cerebral malaria were significantly older than those with uncomplicated malaria, and older than children admitted with other conditions causing fits or coma. The nutritional status of children with cerebral malaria did not differ from that of children admitted with other diagnoses. The cerebrospinal fluid was normal in 80% of children with cerebral malaria, and in 20% mildly elevated protein or leukocytes were noted. Of the 68 children with cerebral malaria, four died (5.9%). This is a low mortality rate in comparison wih other centres in PNG and with reports from other countries.