Falciparum Malaria in Children-A Brief Report of 305 Patients from Rourkela, Eastern India

Most of the studies on malaria in children are reported from Africa, but only a few are from India. A retrospective study of 305 children with slide positive malaria was conducted at Rourkela, Orissa. 5.2% children were below 1 year of age. 34.1% were between 1 and 5 years and 60.7% were above 5 years. 63.9% were boys. The presenting symptoms were fever (98.4%), vomiting (52%), and headache (22%). 121 patients had one or more complications viz., cerebral malaria (n = 56), severe anemia (39), jaundice (31), convulsions (20), hypoglycemia (10) and only one with acute renal failure. 22 patients died.