Prevalence of clinical features in Gambian children admitted to hospital with severe malaria.

variables were defined as follows: Prostration, inability to sit (children aged >7 months); Impaired consciousness, BCS ≤4; Coma, BCS ≤2; Repeated convulsions, >3 in 24 h; Severe anemia (with any parasite density), Hb <5 g/dL or PCV <15; Respiratory distress, abnormal respiratory pattern (respiratory pattern values > or  = 3), grunting or use of accessory muscles of respiration, or abnormally deep (acidotic) breathing; Hypoglycemia ≤2.2 mM; Hyperlactatemia, plasma lactate >5 mM; Hyperpyrexia, temp>40°C; Hyperparasitemia, P. falciparum parasite density >500,000 /µl; Hypotensive shock, circulatory collapse with systolic blood pressure <50 mmHg; Hepatomegaly >2 cm below right costal margin; Splenomegaly >2 cm below left costal margin.