Effect of phenobarbital on seizure frequency and mortality in childhood cerebral malaria: a randomised, controlled intervention study

Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen in Pediatric Central Nervous System Malaria: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

A third of children who survive malaria with neurological involvement (central nervous system [CNS] malaria) develop sequelae. A higher maximum temperature (Tmax) and seizures are risk factors for sequelae.

Objective

To compare aggressive antipyretic therapy using scheduled acetaminophen and ibuprofen vs usual care with acetaminophen alone given only for a temperature of 38.5 °C or higher.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This randomized clinical trial was conducted at inpatient pediatric services of 1 tertiary care and 1 district hospital in Zambia and a tertiary care center in Malawi. Included were children aged 2 to 11 years with CNS malaria (excluding those with creatinine >1.2 mg/dL), who were enrolled from 2019 to 2022. Data analysis took place from December 2022 to April 2023.

Intervention

The aggressive antipyretic group received acetaminophen (30 mg/kg load, then 15 mg/kg) plus ibuprofen, 10 mg/kg, every 6 hours, regardless of clinical temperature for 72 hours. The usual care group received 15 mg/kg of acetaminophen as needed every 6 hours for a temperature of 38.5 °C or higher.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome variable was Tmax over 72 hours, the total duration of follow-up. Secondary outcomes included seizures and parasite clearance.

Results

Five hundred fifty-three patients were screened, 226 (40.9%) were ineligible, and 57 (10.3%) declined. A total 256 participants (n = 128/group) had a mean (SD) age of 4.3 (2.1) years; 115 (45%) were female, and 141 (55%) were male. The aggressive antipyretic group had a lower Tmax, 38.6 vs 39.2 °C (difference, -0.62 °C; 95% CI, -0.82 to -0.42; P < .001) and lower odds of experiencing multiple or prolonged seizures, 10 (8%) vs 34 children (27%) in the usual care group (odds ratio [OR], 0.26; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.56). No group difference in parasite clearance time was detected. Severe adverse events occurred in 40 children (15%), 25 (20%) in the usual care group and 15 (12%) in the aggressive antipyretic group, including 13 deaths (10 [8%] and 3 [2%], respectively). Increased creatinine resulted in study drug discontinuation in 8 children (6%) in the usual care group and 13 children (10%) in the aggressive antipyretic group (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 0.63 to 5.07).

Conclusions and Relevance

This study found that aggressive antipyretic therapy reduced mean Tmax to temperature levels comparable with the Tmax among children without neurological impairments in prior observational studies and improved acute seizure outcomes with no prolongation of parasitemia.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03399318.

Exploring adjunctive therapies for cerebral malaria

Cerebral malaria (CM) is one of the most severe complications of malaria infection characterized by coma and neurological effects. Despite standardized treatment of malaria infection with artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT), the mortality rate is still high, and it primarily affects pediatric patients. ACT reduces parasitemia but fails to adequately target the pathogenic mechanisms underlying CM, including blood-brain-barrier (BBB) disruption, endothelial activation/dysfunction, and hyperinflammation. The need for adjunctive therapies to specifically treat this form of severe malaria is critical as hundreds of thousands of people continue to die each year from this disease. Here we present a summary of some potential promising therapeutic targets and treatments for CM, as well as some that have been tested and deemed ineffective or, in some cases, even deleterious. Further exploration into these therapeutic agents is warranted to assess the effectiveness of these potential treatments for CM patients.

Severe malaria

Severe malaria is a medical emergency. It is a major cause of preventable childhood death in tropical countries. Severe malaria justifies considerable global investment in malaria control and elimination yet, increasingly, international agencies, funders and policy makers are unfamiliar with it, and so it is overlooked. In sub-Saharan Africa, severe malaria is overdiagnosed in clinical practice. Approximately one third of children diagnosed with severe malaria have another condition, usually sepsis, as the cause of their severe illness. But these children have a high mortality, contributing substantially to the number of deaths attributed to ‘severe malaria’. Simple well-established tests, such as examination of the thin blood smear and the full blood count, improve the specificity of diagnosis and provide prognostic information in severe malaria. They should be performed more widely. Early administration of artesunate and broad-spectrum antibiotics to all children with suspected severe malaria would reduce global malaria mortality.

Medical cannabis and cannabidiol: A new harvest for Malawi

In February 2020 parliament passed the Cannabis Regulation Bill (2020) which regulates the cultivation and production of industrial hemp and medical cannabis. The country will only fully benefit from this development if the medical and scientific community can take the lead in enabling the country to exploit the plant's potential to help address some of our economic and public health challenges. This special communication provides some basic information on cannabis and discusses its history and medical uses. Cannabidiol (CBD) has emerged as one of the most important cannabis-derived phytochemicals and has formed the basis for the growth of the medical cannabis industry. The scientific data on the mechanisms of the effects of CBD on the human neuroendocrine-immune network is reviewed and the first effective cannabis-based FDA-approved treatment for epilepsy discussed. Some clinical research that is being done on the antipsychotic and neuroprotective properties of CBD is also reviewed. A case is made for the potential of CBD as a neuroprotective adjunctive therapy for the prevention of neuropsychological sequelae associated with complicated malaria. The safety profile of CBD is reviewed and finally, the potential importance of the re-medicalization of cannabis-based therapies for the broader field of phytomedicine is pointed out.

Targeting the CD146/Galectin-9 axis protects the integrity of the blood-brain barrier in experimental cerebral malaria

Cerebral malaria (CM) is a life-threatening diffuse encephalopathy caused by Plasmodium falciparum, in which the destruction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the main cause of death. However, increasing evidence has shown that antimalarial drugs, the current treatment for CM, do little to protect against CM-induced BBB damage. Therefore, a means to alleviate BBB dysfunction would be a promising adjuvant therapy for CM. The adhesion molecule CD146 has been reported to be expressed in both endothelial cells and proinflammatory immune cells and mediates neuroinflammation. Here, we demonstrate that CD146 expressed on BBB endothelial cells but not immune cells is a novel therapeutic target in a mouse model of experimental cerebral malaria (eCM). Endothelial CD146 is upregulated during eCM development and facilitates the sequestration of infected red blood cells (RBCs) and/or proinflammatory lymphocytes in CNS blood vessels, thereby promoting the disruption of BBB integrity. Mechanistic studies showed that the interaction of CD146 and Galectin-9 contributes to the aggregation of infected RBCs and lymphocytes. Deletion of endothelial CD146 or treatment with the anti-CD146 antibody AA98 prevents severe signs of eCM, such as limb paralysis, brain vascular leakage, and death. In addition, AA98 combined with the antiparasitic drug artemether improved the cognition and memory of mice with eCM. Taken together, our findings suggest that endothelial CD146 is a novel and promising target in combination with antiparasitic drugs for future CM therapies.

The effect of blood transfusion on outcomes among African children admitted to hospital with Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a prospective, multicentre observational study

BACKGROUND

Infection with Plasmodium falciparum leads to severe malaria and death in approximately 400 000 children each year in sub-Saharan Africa. Blood transfusion might benefit some patients with malaria but could potentially harm others. The aim of this study was to estimate the association between transfusion and death among children admitted to hospital with P falciparum malaria.

METHODS

In this prospective, multicentre observational study, we analysed admissions to six tertiary care hospitals in The Gambia, Malawi, Gabon, Kenya, and Ghana that participated in the Severe Malaria in African Children network. Patients were enrolled if they were younger than 180 months and had a Giemsa-stained thick blood smear that was positive for P falciparum. Blood transfusion (whole blood at a target volume of 20 mL per kg) was administered at the discretion of the responsible physicians who were aware of local and international transfusion guidelines. The primary endpoint was death associated with transfusion, which was estimated using models adjusted for site and disease severity. We also aimed to identify factors associated with the decision to transfuse. The exploratory objective was to estimate optimal haemoglobin transfusion thresholds using generalised additive models.

FINDINGS

Between Dec 19, 2000, and March 8, 2005, 26 106 patients were enrolled in the study, 25 893 of whom had their transfusion status recorded and were included in the primary analysis. 8513 (32·8%) patients received a blood transfusion. Patients were followed-up until discharge from hospital for a median of 2 days (IQR 1-4). 405 (4·8%) of 8513 patients who received a transfusion died compared with 689 (4·0%) of 17 380 patients who did not receive a transfusion. Transfusion was associated with decreased odds of death in site-adjusted analysis (odds ratio [OR] 0·82 [95% CI 0·71-0·94]) and after adjusting for the increased disease severity of patients who received a transfusion (0·50 [0·42-0·60]). Severe anaemia, elevated lactate concentration, respiratory distress, and parasite density were associated with greater odds of receiving a transfusion. Among all study participants, transfusion was associated with improved survival when the admission haemoglobin concentration was up to 77 g/L (95% CI 65-110). Among those with impaired consciousness (Blantyre Coma Score ≤4), transfusion was associated with improved survival at haemoglobin concentrations up to 105 g/L (95% CI 71-115). Among those with hyperlactataemia (blood lactate ≥5·0 mmol/L), transfusion was not significantly associated with harm at any haemoglobin concentration-ie, the OR of death comparing transfused versus not transfused was less than 1 at all haemoglobin concentrations (lower bound of the 95% CI for the haemoglobin concentration at which the OR of death equals 1: 90 g/L; no upper bound).

INTERPRETATION

Our findings suggest that whole blood transfusion was associated with improved survival among children hospitalised with P falciparum malaria. Among those with impaired consciousness or hyperlactataemia, transfusion was associated with improved survival at haemoglobin concentrations above the currently recommended transfusion threshold. These findings highlight the need to do randomised controlled trials to test higher transfusion thresholds among African children with severe malaria complicated by these factors.

FUNDING

US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Treatment and prevention of malaria in children

Malaria disproportionately affects children younger than 5 years. Falciparum malaria is responsible for more than 200 000 child deaths per year in Africa and vivax malaria is well documented as a cause of severe anaemia and excess mortality in children in Asia and Oceania. For the treatment of malaria in children, paediatric dosing recommendations for several agents, including parenteral artesunate and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, have belatedly been shown to be suboptimal. Worsening antimalarial resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in the Greater Mekong Subregion threatens to undermine global efforts to control malaria. Triple antimalarial combination therapies are being evaluated to try to impede this threat. The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine gives partial protection against falciparum malaria and is being evaluated in large, pilot studies in Ghana, Malawi, and Kenya as a complementary tool to other preventive measures. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention in west Africa has resulted in declines in malaria incidence and deaths and there is interest in scaling up efforts by expanding the age range of eligible recipients. Preventing relapse in Plasmodium vivax infection with primaquine is challenging because treating children who have G6PD deficiency with primaquine can cause acute haemolytic anaemia. The safety of escalating dose regimens for primaquine is being studied to mitigate this risk.

Zoonotic and vector-borne parasites and epilepsy in low-income and middle-income countries

Zoonotic and vector-borne parasites are important preventable risk factors for epilepsy. Three parasitic infections - cerebral malaria, Taenia solium cysticercosis and onchocerciasis - have an established association with epilepsy. Parasitoses are widely prevalent in low-income and middle-income countries, which are home to 80% of the people with epilepsy in the world. Once a parasitic infection has taken hold in the brain, therapeutic measures do not seem to influence the development of epilepsy in the long term. Consequently, strategies to control, eliminate and eradicate parasites represent the most feasible way to reduce the epilepsy burden at present. The elucidation of immune mechanisms underpinning the parasitic infections, some of which are parasite-specific, opens up new therapeutic possibilities. In this Review, we explore the pathophysiological basis of the link between parasitic infections and epilepsy, and we consider preventive and therapeutic approaches to reduce the burden of epilepsy attributable to parasitic disorders. We conclude that a concerted approach involving medical, veterinary, parasitological and ecological experts, backed by robust political support and sustainable funding, is the key to reducing this burden.

Malaria: What's New in the Management of Malaria?

The global burden of malaria remains high, with 216 million cases causing 445,000 deaths in 2016 despite first-line treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapy. Decreasing transmission in Africa shifts the risk for severe malaria to older age groups as premunition wanes. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with intravenous artesunate in addition to appropriate supportive management are critical to reduce deaths from severe malaria. Effective individual management is challenging in settings with limited resources for higher-level care. Adjunctive therapies targeting the underlying pathophysiological pathways have the potential to reduce mortality. Resistance to artemisinin derivatives and their partner drugs threaten malaria management and control.

A clinical trial of enteral Levetiracetam for acute seizures in pediatric cerebral malaria

Background

Acute seizures are common in pediatric cerebral malaria (CM), but usual care with phenobarbital risks respiratory suppression. We undertook studies of enteral levetiracetam (eLVT) to evaluate pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and efficacy including an open-label, randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing eLVT to phenobarbital.

Methods

Children 24–83 months old with CM were enrolled in an eLVT dose-finding study starting with standard dose (40 mg/kg load, then 30 mg/kg Q12 hours) titrated upward until seizure freedom was attained in 75% of subjects.

The RCT that followed randomized children to eLVT vs. phenobarbital for acute seizures and compared the groups on minutes with seizures based upon continuous electroencephalogram. Due to safety concerns, midway through the study children allocated to phenobarbital received the drug only if they continued to have seizures (either clinically or electrographically) after benzodiazepine treatment. Secondary outcomes were treatment failure requiring cross over, coma duration and neurologic sequelae at discharge. PK and safety assessments were also undertaken.

Results

Among 30 comatose CM children, eLVT was rapidly absorbed and well-tolerated. eLVT clearance was lower in patients with higher admission serum creatinine (SCr), but overall PK parameters were similar to prior pediatric PK studies. Within 4 h of the first dose, 90% reached therapeutic levels (> 20 μg/mL) and all were above 6 μg/mL. 7/7 children achieved seizure freedom on the initial eLVT dose.

Comparing 23 eLVT to 21 phenobarbital patients among whom 15/21 received phenobarbital, no differences were seen for minutes with seizure, seizure freedom, coma duration, neurologic sequelae or death, but eLVT was safer (p = 0.019). Phenobarbital was discontinued in 3/15 due to respiratory side effects.

Conclusion

Enteral LVT offers an affordable option for seizure control in pediatric CM and is safer than phenobarbital.

Trial registration

NCT01660672.

NCT01982812.

Management of severe imported malaria in adults

Severe malaria accounts for approximately 10% of all cases of imported malaria in France; cases are mainly due to Plasmodium falciparum, while other Plasmodium species are possible but uncommon (P. vivax, P. knowlesi, P. malariae, and P. ovale). On the basis of WHO criteria for endemic areas, the French criteria defining severe imported malaria in adults have been progressively adapted to the European healthcare level. Management of severe imported malaria is a diagnostic and treatment emergency and must be initially conducted in the intensive care unit. Anti-infective treatment is now based on intravenous artesunate, which must be available in every hospital of the country likely to receive severe imported malaria patients. Intravenous quinine is thus used as a second-line treatment and is restricted to limited indications. Critical care management of organ failure is essential, particularly in patients presenting with very severe malaria. To date, no adjunctive therapy (including exchange transfusion) has demonstrated clear beneficial effects.

Prise en charge du paludisme grave d’importation de l’adulte

En France, le paludisme grave d’importation concerne environ 12 à 14 % des accès palustres et implique très majoritairement Plasmodium falciparum. À partir de la définition du paludisme grave de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé utilisée en zone d’endémie palustre, la définition française du paludisme grave d’importation de l’adulte a été adaptée aux données et au contexte européens. La prise en charge du paludisme grave est une urgence diagnostique et thérapeutique qui doit être réalisée initialement en réanimation. Le traitement curatif du paludisme grave d’importation repose maintenant sur l’artésunate intraveineux (IV) qui doit être disponible dans chaque hôpital susceptible de recevoir ces patients. Dès lors, la quinine IV devient un traitement de seconde ligne réservé à quelques circonstances. La prise en charge symptomatique des défaillances d’organes est primordiale, notamment au cours des formes les plus sévères. Enfin, aucun traitement adjuvant n’a prouvé, à ce jour, son efficacité en pratique clinique.

Malaria

Following unsuccessful eradication attempts there was a resurgence of malaria towards the end of the 20th century. Renewed control efforts using a range of improved tools, such as long-lasting insecticide-treated bednets and artemisinin-based combination therapies, have more than halved the global burden of disease, but it remains high with 445 000 deaths and more than 200 million cases in 2016. Pitfalls in individual patient management are delayed diagnosis and overzealous fluid resuscitation in severe malaria. Even in the absence of drug resistance, parasite recurrence can occur, owing to high parasite densities, low host immunity, or suboptimal drug concentrations. Malaria elimination is firmly back as a mainstream policy but resistance to the artemisinin derivatives, their partner drugs, and insecticides present major challenges. Vaccine development continues on several fronts but none of the candidates developed to date have been shown to provide long-lasting benefits at a population level. Increased resources and unprecedented levels of regional cooperation and societal commitment will be needed if further substantial inroads into the malaria burden are to be made.

Pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatment of coma and acute kidney injury complicating falciparum malaria

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cerebral impairment and acute kidney injury (AKI) are independent predictors of mortality in both adults and children with severe falciparum malaria. In this review, we present recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology, clinical features, and management of these complications of severe malaria, and discuss future areas of research.

RECENT FINDINGS

Cerebral malaria and AKI are serious and well recognized complications of severe malaria. Common pathophysiological pathways include impaired microcirculation, due to sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes, systemic inflammatory responses, and endothelial activation. Recent MRI studies show significant brain swelling in both adults and children with evidence of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome-like syndrome although targeted interventions including mannitol and dexamethasone are not beneficial. Recent work shows association of cell-free hemoglobin oxidation stress involved in the pathophysiology of AKI in both adults and children. Paracetamol protected renal function likely by inhibiting cell-free-mediated oxidative stress. It is unclear if heme-mediated endothelial activation or oxidative stress is involved in cerebral malaria.

SUMMARY

The direct causes of cerebral and kidney dysfunction remain incompletely understood. Optimal treatment involves prompt diagnosis and effective antimalarial treatment with artesunate. Renal replacement therapy reduces mortality in AKI but delayed diagnosis is an issue.

Adjunctive therapy for severe malaria: a review and critical appraisal

BACKGROUND

Despite recent efforts and successes in reducing the malaria burden globally, this infection still accounts for an estimated 212 million clinical cases, 2 million severe malaria cases, and approximately 429,000 deaths annually. Even with the routine use of effective anti-malarial drugs, the case fatality rate for severe malaria remains unacceptably high, with cerebral malaria being one of the most life-threatening complications. Up to one-third of cerebral malaria survivors are left with long-term cognitive and neurological deficits. From a population point of view, the decrease of malaria transmission may jeopardize the development of naturally acquired immunity against the infection, leading to fewer total cases, but potentially an increase in severe cases. The pathophysiology of severe and cerebral malaria is not completely understood, but both parasite and host determinants contribute to its onset and outcomes. Adjunctive therapy, based on modulating the host response to infection, could help to improve the outcomes achieved with specific anti-malarial therapy.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

In the last decades, several interventions targeting different pathways have been tested. However, none of these strategies have demonstrated clear beneficial effects, and some have shown deleterious outcomes. This review aims to summarize evidence from clinical trials testing different adjunctive therapy for severe and cerebral malaria in humans. It also highlights some preclinical studies which have evaluated novel strategies and other candidate therapeutics that may be evaluated in future clinical trials.

Management protocols for status epilepticus in the pediatric emergency room: systematic review article

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review of national or regional guidelines published in English aimed to better understand variance in pre-hospital and emergency department treatment of status epilepticus.

SOURCES

Systematic search of national or regional guidelines (January 2000 to February 2017) contained within PubMed and Google Scholar databases, and article reference lists. The search keywords were status epilepticus, prolonged seizure, treatment, and guideline.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

356 articles were retrieved and 13 were selected according to the inclusion criteria. In all six pre-hospital guidelines, the preferred route of medication administration was to use alternatives to the intravenous route: all recommended buccal and intranasal midazolam; three also recommended intramuscular midazolam, and five recommended using rectal diazepam. All 11 emergency department guidelines described three phases in therapy. Intravenous medication, by phase, was indicated as such: initial phase - ten/11 guidelines recommended lorazepam, and eight/11 recommended diazepam; second phase - most (ten/11) guidelines recommended phenytoin, but other options were phenobarbital (nine/11), valproic acid (six/11), and either fosphenytoin or levetiracetam (each four/11); third phase - four/11 guidelines included the choice of repeating second phase therapy, whereas the other guidelines recommended using a variety of intravenous anesthetic agents (thiopental, midazolam, propofol, and pentobarbital).

CONCLUSIONS

All of the guidelines share a similar framework for management of status epilepticus. The choice in route of administration and drug type varied across guidelines. Hence, the adoption of a particular guideline should take account of local practice options in health service delivery.

Management of acute seizures in children: A review with special consideration of care in resource-limited settings

INTRODUCTION

We sought to review recent evidence-based guidelines and where applicable, primary data to extrapolate insights into the appropriate management of acute seizures in children in resource-limited settings.

METHODS

PubMed and Google scholar searches were conducted with attention to publications from the last three to five years, including a focused search for acute seizure management guidelines relevant to resource limited settings. Since all guidelines to date, except the World Health Organization's, assume ready access to invasive ventilation and advanced diagnostic testing, guidelines and primary data were used to propose management appropriate for resource-limited settings where respiratory suppression from treatment presents a major challenge in management.

RESULTS

Acute seizures are among the commonest medical emergencies encountered in the African settings. Seizure management must occur simultaneously with the diagnostic assessment, which should include addressing life threatening causes (e.g. hypoglycaemia, malaria) and with attention given to the most likely aetiology in a particular region or setting. For ongoing seizures, initial treatment with benzodiazepines is indicated. There is evidence of efficacy for several agents and delivery modes. Longer-acting antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) should be on hand if acute seizures fail to respond to two doses of benzodiazepines. There is little direct evidence comparing the relative efficacy of different long-acting AEDs for acute seizure management in African children. Findings suggest that generalising data from Western settings, where different aetiologies and risk factors for seizures prevail, may be inappropriate.

DISCUSSION

Though treatment options and diagnostics may be dictated by available medications and capacity, it is possible for virtually any healthcare setting to develop a relevant and feasible local guideline for seizure management. Clear specifications on when to refer to a higher level of care should be part of the care plan.

Management of Seizures in Children with Falciparum Malaria

Falciparum malaria is the most common cause of convulsions in children admitted to hospital in malaria endemic areas. Detection of convulsions requires close monitoring and one should be on the look out for signs of subtle convulsions. About a third of acute seizures in children with cerebral malaria, do not manifest as convulsions, but as changes in eye deviation, salivation and/or eye deviation. It is important to terminate convulsions lasting more than 5 min, since prolonged convulsions are associated with neurological deficits in survivors of children with severe malaria. Initial management should include putting the child into the left lateral position, checking the blood glucose and administering oxygen if hypoxic. The benzodiazepines, particularly diazepam, are used as the initial anticonvulsants. Phénobarbital and Phenytoin are used as second-line treatments. Prompt and effective management of falciparum malaria associated convulsions may contribute to a better outcome in children with severe malaria.

Antiepileptic drugs for the primary and secondary prevention of seizures in viral encephalitis

BACKGROUND

Viral encephalitis is characterised by diverse clinical and epidemiological features. Seizures are an important clinical manifestation and are associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Patients may have seizures during the acute illness or they may develop after recovery. There are no recommendations regarding the use of antiepileptic drugs for the primary or secondary prevention of seizures in patients with viral encephalitis.This is an updated version of the original Cochrane review published in The Cochrane Library 2014, Issue 10.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and tolerability of antiepileptic drugs for the primary and secondary prophylaxis of seizures in viral encephalitis. We had intended to answer the following questions.1. Do antiepileptic drugs used routinely as primary prophylaxis for all patients with suspected or proven viral encephalitis reduce the risk of seizures during the acute illness and reduce neurological morbidity and mortality?2. Do antiepileptic drugs used routinely as secondary prophylaxis for all patients who have had at least one seizure due to suspected or proven viral encephalitis reduce the risk of further seizures during the acute illness and reduce neurological morbidity and mortality?

SEARCH METHODS

For the latest version of this review, we searched the Cochrane Epilepsy Group Specialized Register (11 April 2016), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) via the Cochrane Register of Studies Online (CRSO, 11 April 2016), MEDLINE (Ovid 1946 to 11 April 2016), the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP, 11 April 2016), and ClinicalTrials.gov (11 April 2016). We did not impose any language restrictions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials in which patients were assigned to a treatment or control group (placebo or no drug).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

One review author (SP) searched the publications by title, abstract and keywords, and decided on their suitability for the review. For any studies where their suitability was unclear, the co-authors (CR, BM) were consulted. The co-authors (CR, BM) independently evaluated the selected studies. Since there were no included studies, we carried out no data analysis.

MAIN RESULTS

We did not find any randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials that compared the effects of antiepileptic drugs with placebo (or no drug) for the primary or secondary prevention of seizures in viral encephalitis. We identified two studies from the literature search where different antiepileptic drugs were used in patients with viral encephalitis, however both failed to meet the inclusion criteria.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is insufficient evidence to support or refute the routine use of antiepileptic drugs for the primary or secondary prevention of seizures in viral encephalitis. There is a need for adequately powered randomised controlled trials in patients with viral encephalitis to assess the efficacy and tolerability of antiepileptic drugs for the primary and secondary prophylaxis of seizures, which is an important clinical problem.

Management of severe paediatric malaria in resource-limited settings

Over 90% of the world's severe and fatal Plasmodium falciparum malaria is estimated to affect young children in sub-Sahara Africa, where it remains a common cause of hospital admission and inpatient mortality. Few children will ever be managed on high dependency or intensive care units and, therefore, rely on simple supportive treatments and parenteral anti-malarials. There has been some progress on defining best practice for antimalarial treatment with the publication of the AQUAMAT trial in 2010, involving 5,425 children at 11 centres across 9 African countries, showing that in artesunate-treated children, the relative risk of death was 22.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 8.1 to 36.9) lower than in those receiving quinine. Human trials of supportive therapies carried out on the basis of pathophysiology studies, have so far made little progress on reducing mortality; despite appearing to reduce morbidity endpoints, more often than not they have led to an excess of adverse outcomes. This review highlights the spectrum of complications in African children with severe malaria, the therapeutic challenges of managing these in resource-poor settings and examines in-depth the results from clinical trials with a view to identifying the treatment priorities and a future research agenda.

Cerebral malaria as a risk factor for the development of epilepsy and other long-term neurological conditions: a meta-analysis

Cerebral malaria (CM) is the most common and severe acute neurological manifestation of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Children living in malaria-endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa are at the highest risk of developing CM, and the long-term effect of CM on neurological function is uncertain. We conducted a meta-analysis to quantitatively assess the association between CM and development of long-term neurological impairment. We performed a systematic search through PubMed (including MEDLINE; 1946 to December 2014) and EMBASE (1974 to January 2015) to identify relevant articles. Eligible studies assessed the association between CM and neurological sequelae and were included if they met the criteria allowing a complete extraction of data. Eight studies were included in the final analysis, and in total, 2005 individuals were analysed (cases: n=842, controls: n=1163), most of whom were children. CM was associated with an increased risk of epilepsy (OR 4.68, 95% CI: 2.52-8.70), an increased risk of intelligence quotient (IQ) impairment (OR 4.72, 95% CI: 0.78-28.49), an increased risk of neurodisabilities (OR 16.16, 95% CI: 1.34-195.45), and an increased risk of behavioural disorder (OR 8.47, 95% CI: 2.75-26.04). Our findings suggest that children who survive CM are at increased risk of long-term neurological adverse outcome, including epilepsy. This may present a major public health problem in terms of education and development in malaria-endemic areas. Measures to avoid neurological morbidity are warranted.

Antiepileptic drugs for the primary and secondary prevention of seizures in viral encephalitis

BACKGROUND

Viral encephalitis is characterised by diverse clinical and epidemiological features. Seizures are an important clinical manifestation and associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Patients may have seizures during the acute illness or they may develop after recovery. There are no recommendations regarding the use of antiepileptic drugs for the primary or secondary prevention of seizures in patients with viral encephalitis.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and safety of antiepileptic drugs for the primary and secondary prophylaxis of seizures in viral encephalitis. We intended to answer the following questions.1. Do antiepileptic drugs used as primary prophylaxis routinely for all patients with suspected or proven viral encephalitis reduce the risk of seizures during the acute illness and reduce neurological morbidity and mortality?2. Do antiepileptic drugs used as secondary prophylaxis routinely for all patients who have had at least one seizure due to suspected or proven viral encephalitis reduce the risk of further seizures during the acute illness and reduce neurological morbidity and mortality?

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Epilepsy Group Specialised Register (13 May 2014), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2014, Issue 4) (April 2014), MEDLINE (Ovid, 1946 to 13 May 2014), the WHO ICTRP search portal (13 May 2014) and ClinicalTrials.gov (13 May 2014). We did not impose any language restrictions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials in which patients were assigned to a treatment or control group (placebo or no drug).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

One author (SP) searched the publications by title, abstract and keywords and decided on their suitability for inclusion in the review. For any studies where it was unclear whether they would be suitable for inclusion, the co-authors (CR, BM) were consulted. The co-authors (CR, BM) evaluated the selected studies independently. Since there were no included studies, we carried out no data analysis.

MAIN RESULTS

We did not find any randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials that compared the effects of antiepileptic drugs with placebo (or no drug) for the primary or secondary prevention of seizures in viral encephalitis. We identified two studies from the literature search where different antiepileptic drugs were used in patients with viral encephalitis, however both failed to meet the inclusion criteria. The first study included children with viral encephalitis where antiepileptic drugs were given. However, it is not clear how the diagnosis was established or the aetiologies. In addition, the randomisation and blinding method is not disclosed; the patients received a diverse and ill-defined range of antiepileptic drugs and adjunctive therapies, and none of the primary or secondary outcome measures was assessed. In the second study, adults with status epilepticus (of whom a proportion had viral encephalitis), who had failed to respond to two initial boluses of diazepam, were randomised to either valproate or diazepam. The study was open-label and the randomisation methodology was not disclosed; none of the primary or secondary outcomes were reported. Data on treatment response between the two arms for those patients with viral encephalitis are not presented for subgroup analysis; the Cochrane Epilepsy Group have contacted the authors for these data but have yet to receive a response.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is insufficient evidence to support the routine use of antiepileptic drugs for the primary or secondary prevention of seizures in viral encephalitis. There is a need for adequately powered randomised controlled trials in viral encephalitis patients to assess the efficacy and safety of antiepileptic drugs for the primary and secondary prophylaxis of seizures, which is an important clinical problem.

Managing malaria in the intensive care unit

The number of people travelling to malaria-endemic countries continues to increase, and malaria remains the commonest cause of serious imported infection in non-endemic areas. Severe malaria, mostly caused by Plasmodium falciparum, often requires intensive care unit (ICU) admission and can be complicated by cerebral malaria, respiratory distress, acute kidney injury, bleeding complications, and co-infection. The mortality from imported malaria remains significant. This article reviews the manifestations, complications and principles of management of severe malaria as relevant to critical care clinicians, incorporating recent studies of anti-malarial and adjunctive treatment. Effective management of severe malaria includes prompt diagnosis and early institution of effective anti-malarial therapy, recognition of complications, and appropriate supportive management in an ICU. All cases should be discussed with a specialist unit and transfer of the patient considered.

The EEG of tropical encephalopathies

In addition to encountering most of the conditions treated by clinicians in the West, clinicians in the tropics are faced with unique tropical encephalopathies. These are largely but not entirely infectious in nature. Despite the relatively low cost of EEG technology, it remains unavailable in many low-income tropical settings even at the tertiary care level. Where available, the EEG recordings and interpretation are often of unacceptable quality. Nonetheless, there are existing data on the EEG patterns seen in malaria and a number of tropical viral, bacterial, and parasitic infestations.

Severe malarial anemia is associated with long-term neurocognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

Cerebral malaria (CM) is associated with long-term neurocognitive impairment in children ≥5 years of age. No prospective studies to date have assessed neurocognitive impairment in children with CM <5 years of age, or in children with severe malarial anemia (SMA), a form of severe malaria estimated to affect as many as 5 million children annually.

METHODS

Children <5 years of age presenting to Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, with CM (n = 80) or SMA (n = 86) were assessed for overall cognitive ability, attention, and associative memory 1 week after discharge and 6 and 12 months later. The z scores for each domain were computed based on scores of 61 healthy community children (CC), who were also tested at enrollment and 6 and 12 months later. Groups were compared using mixed linear models, adjusted for age, weight for age, and child's education.

RESULTS

At 12 months, children with CM had lower adjusted scores than CC in cognitive ability (P < .001), attention (P = .02), and associative memory, (P = .002). Children with SMA had lower scores than CC in cognitive ability (P = .01) but not attention or associative memory. Cognitive ability scores in children with CM and SMA did not differ significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

In children <5 years of age, SMA is associated with long-term impairment in cognitive ability, whereas CM is associated with additional impairment in the areas of attention and associative memory. SMA may be a major contributor to long-term neurocognitive impairment in children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Malaria

Although global morbidity and mortality have decreased substantially, malaria, a parasite infection of red blood cells, still kills roughly 2000 people per day, most of whom are children in Africa. Two factors largely account for these decreases; increased deployment of insecticide-treated bednets and increased availability of highly effective artemisinin combination treatments. In large trials, parenteral artesunate (an artemisinin derivative) reduced severe malaria mortality by 22·5% in Africa and 34·7% in Asia compared with quinine, whereas adjunctive interventions have been uniformly unsuccessful. Rapid tests have been an important addition to microscopy for malaria diagnosis. Chemopreventive strategies have been increasingly deployed in Africa, notably intermittent sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine treatment in pregnancy, and monthly amodiaquine-sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine during the rainy season months in children aged between 3 months and 5 years across the sub-Sahel. Enthusiasm for malaria elimination has resurfaced. This ambitious but laudable goal faces many challenges, including the worldwide economic downturn, difficulties in elimination of vivax malaria, development of pyrethroid resistance in some anopheline mosquitoes, and the emergence of artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in southeast Asia. We review the epidemiology, clinical features, pathology, prevention, and treatment of malaria.

Clinical features and outcome in children with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a meta-analysis

Background

Although global malaria mortality is declining, estimates may not reflect better inpatient management of severe malaria (SM) where reported case fatality rates (CFRs) vary from 1–25%.

Methods

A meta-analysis of prospective studies of SM was conducted to examine i) whether hypothesized differences between clinical features and outcome in Melanesian compared with African or Asian children really exist, and ii) to explore temporal changes in overall and complication-specific CFRs. The proportions of different SM complications and, overall and complication-specific CFRs were incorporated into the meta-analysis. Adjustments were made for study-level covariates including geographic region, SM definition, artemisinin treatment, median age of participants and time period.

Findings

Sixty-five studies were included. Substantial heterogeneity (I²>80%) was demonstrated for most outcomes. SM definition contributed to between-study heterogeneity in proportions of cerebral malaria (CM), metabolic acidosis (MA), severe anemia and overall CFR, whilst geographic region was a significant moderator in for CM and hypoglycemia (HG) rates. Compared with their African counterparts, Melanesian children had lower rates of HG (10% [CI95 7–13%] versus 1% [0–3%], P<0.05), lower overall CFR (2% [0–4%] versus 7% [6–9%], P<0.05) and lower CM-specific CFR (8% [0–17%] versus 19% [16–21%], P<0.05). There was no temporal trend for overall CFR and CM-specific CFR but declining HG- and MA- specific CFRs were observed.

Interpretation

These data highlight that recent estimates of declining global malaria mortality are not replicated by improved outcomes for children hospitalized with SM. Significant geographic differences in the complication rates and subsequent CFRs exist and provide the first robust confirmation of lower CFRs in Melanesian children, perhaps due to less frequent HG.

Fosphenytoin for seizure prevention in childhood coma in Africa: a randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE

We conducted a double-blind trial to determine whether a single intramuscular injection of fosphenytoin prevents seizures and neurologic sequelae in children with acute coma.

METHODS

We conducted this study at Kilifi District Hospital in coastal Kenya and Kondele Children's Hospital in western Kenya. We recruited children (age, 9 months to 13 years) with acute nontraumatic coma. We administered fosphenytoin (20 phenytoin equivalents/kg) or placebo and examined the prevalence and frequency of clinical seizures and occurrence of neurocognitive sequelae.

RESULTS

We recruited 173 children (median age, 2.6 [interquartile range, 1.7-3.7] years) into the study; 110 had cerebral malaria, 8 had bacterial meningitis, and 55 had encephalopathies of unknown etiology. Eighty-five children received fosphenytoin and 88 received placebo. Thirty-three (38%) children who received fosphenytoin had at least 1 seizure compared with 32 (36%) who received placebo (P = .733). Eighteen (21%) and 15 (17%) children died in the fosphenytoin and placebo arms, respectively (P = .489). At 3 months after discharge, 6 (10%) children in the fosphenytoin arm had neurologic sequelae compared with 6 (10%) in the placebo arm (P = .952).

CONCLUSION

A single intramuscular injection of fosphenytoin (20 phenytoin equivalents/kg) does not prevent seizures or neurologic deficits in childhood acute nontraumatic coma.

Stuck in a rut? Reconsidering the role of parasite sequestration in severe malaria syndromes

Severe malaria defines individuals at increased risk of death from their infection. Proposed pathogenic mechanisms include parasite sequestration, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. Severe malaria is not a single entity, manifesting with distinct syndromes such as severe anemia, severe respiratory distress or coma, each characterized by differences in epidemiology, underlying biology, and risk of death. The relative contribution of the various pathogenic mechanisms may differ between syndromes, and this is supported by accumulating evidence, which challenges sequestration as the initiating event. Here we propose that high parasite biomass is the common initiating feature, but subtle variations in the interaction between the host and parasite exist, and understanding these differences may be crucial to improve outcomes in patients with severe malaria.

Status epilepticus in sub-Saharan Africa: New findings

Status epilepticus (SE) is common in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in children. Most cases in children are caused by infections, particularly malaria in endemic areas. The outcome is worse than in the West, probably because of delays in initiating treatment, and lack of skills and facilities for the management of SE. However some of the causes, for example, falciparum malaria, offer challenges in the diagnosis and the treatment of SE. Exposure to falciparum malaria increases the risk of SE. Much of the SE in Africa could be prevented by reducing the incidence of infections. The outcome could be improved through education, development of locally appropriate guidelines, and provision of appropriate facilities.

Childhood acute non-traumatic coma: aetiology and challenges in management in resource-poor countries of Africa and Asia

OBJECTIVE

This review examines the best available evidence on the aetiology of childhood acute non-traumatic coma in resource-poor countries (RPCs), discusses the challenges associated with management, and explores strategies to address them.

METHODS

Publications in English and French which reported on studies on the aetiology of childhood non-traumatic coma in RPCs are reviewed. Primarily, the MEDLINE database was searched using the keywords coma, unconsciousness, causality, aetiology, child, malaria cerebral, meningitis, encephalitis, Africa, Asia, and developing countries.

RESULTS

14 records were identified for inclusion in the review. Cerebral malaria (CM) was the commonest cause of childhood coma in most of the studies conducted in Africa. Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) was the second most common known cause of coma in seven of the African studies. Of the studies in Asia, encephalitides were the commonest cause of coma in two studies in India, and ABM was the commonest cause of coma in Pakistan. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most commonly isolated organism in ABM. Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever and enteroviruses were the viral agents most commonly isolated.

CONCLUSION

Accurate diagnosis of the aetiology of childhood coma in RPCs is complicated by overlap in clinical presentation, limited diagnostic resources, disease endemicity and co-morbidity. For improved outcomes, studies are needed to further elucidate the aetiology of childhood coma in RPCs, explore simple and practical diagnostic tools, and investigate the most appropriate specific and supportive interventions to manage and prevent infectious encephalopathies.

Cerebral malaria

Malaria, the most significant parasitic disease of man, kills approximately one million people per year. Half of these deaths occur in those with cerebral malaria (CM). The World Health Organization (WHO) defines CM as an otherwise unexplained coma in a patient with malarial parasitemia. Worldwide, CM occurs primarily in African children and Asian adults, with the vast majority (greater than 90%) of cases occurring in children 5 years old or younger in sub-Saharan Africa. The pathophysiology of the disease is complex and involves infected erythrocyte sequestration, cerebral inflammation, and breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. A recently characterized malarial retinopathy is visual evidence of Plasmodium falciparum's pathophysiological processes occurring in the affected patient. Treatment consists of supportive care and antimalarial administration. Thus far, adjuvant therapies have not been shown to improve mortality rates or neurological outcomes in children with CM. For those who survive CM, residual neurological abnormalities are common. Epilepsy, cognitive impairment, behavioral disorders, and gross neurological deficits which include motor, sensory, and language impairments are frequent sequelae. Primary prevention strategies, including bed nets, vaccine development, and chemoprophylaxis, are in varied states of development and implementation. Continuing efforts to find successful primary prevention options and strategies to decrease neurological sequelae are needed.

Pediatric cerebral malaria: a scourge of Africa

Cerebral malaria, defined as an otherwise unexplained coma in a patient with Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia, affects up to 1 million people per year, the vast majority of them being children living in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite optimal treatment, this condition kills 15% of those affected and leaves 30% of survivors with neurologic sequelae. The clinical diagnosis is hampered by its poor specificity, but the presence or absence of a malarial retinopathy in cerebral malaria has proven to be important in the differentiation of underlying coma etiology. Both antimalarials and intense supportive care are necessary for optimal treatment. As of yet, clinical trials of adjunctive therapies have not improved the high rates of mortality and morbidity. Survivors are at high risk of neurologic sequelae including epilepsy, neurodisabilities and cognitive–behavioral problems. The neuroanatomic and functional bases of these sequelae are being elucidated. Although adjunctive therapy trials continue, the best hope for African children may lie in disease prevention. Strategies include bednets, chemoprophylaxis and vaccine development.

Adjunctive therapy for cerebral malaria and other severe forms of Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Severe malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum causes more than 800,000 deaths every year. Primary therapy with quinine or artesunate is generally effective in controlling P. falciparum parasitemia, but mortality from cerebral malaria and other forms of severe malaria remains unacceptably high. Long-term cognitive impairment is also common in children with cerebral malaria. Of the numerous adjunctive therapies for cerebral malaria and severe malaria studied over the past five decades, only one (albumin) was associated with a reduction in mortality. In this article, we review past and ongoing studies of adjunctive therapy, and examine the evidence of efficacy for newer therapies, including inhibitors of cytoadherence (e.g., levamisole), immune modulators (e.g., rosiglitazone), agents that increase nitric oxide levels (e.g., arginine) and neuroprotective agents (e.g., erythropoietin).

Blantyre Malaria Project Epilepsy Study (BMPES) of neurological outcomes in retinopathy-positive paediatric cerebral malaria survivors: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cerebral malaria, a disorder characterised by coma, parasitaemia, and no other evident cause of coma, is challenging to diagnose definitively in endemic regions that have high rates of asymptomatic parasitaemia and limited neurodiagnostic facilities. A recently described malaria retinopathy improves diagnostic specificity. We aimed to establish whether retinopathy-positive cerebral malaria is a risk factor for epilepsy or other neurodisabilities.

METHODS

Between 2005 and 2007, we did a prospective cohort study of survivors of cerebral malaria with malaria retinopathy in Blantyre, Malawi. Children with cerebral malaria were identified at the time of their index admission and age-matched to concurrently admitted children without coma or nervous system infection. Initially matching of cases to controls was 1:1 but, in 2006, enrolment criteria for cerebral malaria survivors were revised to limit inclusion to children with cerebral malaria and retinopathy on the basis of indirect ophthalmoscopic examination; matching was then changed to 1:2 and the revised inclusion criteria were applied retrospectively for children enrolled previously. Clinical assessments at discharge and standardised nurse-led follow-up every 3 months thereafter were done to identify children with new seizure disorders or other neurodisabilities. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was done for incident epilepsy.

FINDINGS

132 children with retinopathy-positive cerebral malaria and 264 age-matched, non-comatose controls were followed up for a median of 495 days (IQR 195-819). 12 of 132 cerebral malaria survivors developed epilepsy versus none of 264 controls (odds ratio [OR] undefined; p<0·0001). 28 of 121 cerebral malaria survivors developed new neurodisabilities, characterised by gross motor, sensory, or language deficits, compared with two of 253 controls (OR 37·8, 95% CI 8·8-161·8; p<0·0001). The risk factors for epilepsy in children with cerebral malaria were a higher maximum temperature (39·4°C [SD 1·2] vs 38·5°C [1·1]; p=0·01) and acute seizures (11/12 vs 76/120; OR 6·37, 95% CI 1·02-141·2), and male sex was a risk factor for new neurodisabilities (20/28 vs 38/93; OR 3·62, 1·44-9·06).

INTERPRETATION

Almost a third of retinopathy-positive cerebral malaria survivors developed epilepsy or other neurobehavioural sequelae. Neuroprotective clinical trials aimed at managing hyperpyrexia and optimising seizure control are warranted.

FUNDING

US National Institutes of Health and Wellcome Trust.

Cerebral malaria: mechanisms of brain injury and strategies for improved neurocognitive outcome

Cerebral malaria is the most severe neurological complication of infection with Plasmodium falciparum. With >575,000 cases annually, children in sub-Saharan Africa are the most affected. Surviving patients have an increased risk of neurological and cognitive deficits, behavioral difficulties, and epilepsy making cerebral malaria a leading cause of childhood neurodisability in the region. The pathogenesis of neurocognitive sequelae is poorly understood: coma develops through multiple mechanisms and there may be several mechanisms of brain injury. It is unclear how an intravascular parasite causes such brain injury. Understanding these mechanisms is important to develop appropriate neuroprotective interventions. This article examines possible mechanisms of brain injury in cerebral malaria, relating this to the pathogenesis of the disease, and explores prospects for improved neurocognitive outcome.

Malaria in children

The past decade has seen an unprecedented surge in political commitment and international funding for malaria control. Coverage with existing control methods (ie, vector control and artemisinin-based combination therapy) is increasing, and, in some Asian and African countries, childhood morbidity and mortality from malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum are starting to decline. Consequently, there is now renewed interest in the possibility of malaria elimination. But the ability of the parasite to develop resistance to antimalarial drugs and increasing insecticide resistance of the vector threaten to reduce and even reverse current gains. Plasmodium vivax, with its dormant liver stage, will be particularly difficult to eliminate, and access to effective and affordable treatment at community level is a key challenge. New drugs and insecticides are needed urgently, while use of an effective vaccine as part of national malaria control programmes remains an elusive goal. This Seminar, which is aimed at clinicians who manage children with malaria, especially in resource-poor settings, discusses present knowledge and controversies in relation to the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of malaria in children.

The murine cerebral malaria phenomenon

P.berghei ANKA infection in CBA or CB57BL/6 mice is used widely as a murine ‘model’ of human cerebral malaria (HCM), despite markedly different histopathological features. The pathology of the murine model is characterised by marked inflammation with little or no intracerebral sequestration of parasitised erythrocytes, whereas HCM is associated with intense intracerebral sequestration, often with little inflammatory response. There are now more than ten times as many studies each year of the murine model than on HCM. Of 48 adjunctive interventions evaluated in the murine model, 44 (92%) were successful, compared with only 1 (6%) of 17 evaluated in HCM during the same period. The value of the mouse model in identifying pathological processes or therapeutic interventions in human cerebral malaria is questionable.

Predictors of anti-convulsant treatment failure in children presenting with malaria and prolonged seizures in Kampala, Uganda

Background

In endemic areas, falciparum malaria remains the leading cause of seizures in children presenting to emergency departments. In addition, seizures in malaria have been shown to increase morbidity and mortality in these patients. The management of seizures in malaria is sometimes complicated by the refractory nature of these seizures to readily available anti-convulsants. The objective of this study was to determine predictors of anti-convulsant treatment failure and seizure recurrence after initial control among children with malaria.

Methods

In a previous study, the efficacy and safety of buccal midazolam was compared to that of rectal diazepam in the treatment of prolonged seizures in children aged three months to 12 years in Kampala, Uganda. For this study, predictive models were used to determine risk factors for anti-convulsant treatment failure and seizure recurrence among the 221 of these children with malaria.

Results

Using predictive models, focal seizures (OR 3.21; 95% CI 1.42–7.25, p = 0.005), cerebral malaria (OR 2.43; 95% CI 1.20–4.91, p = 0.01) and a blood sugar ≥200 mg/dl at presentation (OR 2.84; 95% CI 1.11–7.20, p = 0.02) were independent predictors of treatment failure (seizure persistence beyond 10 minutes or recurrence within one hour of treatment). Predictors of seizure recurrence included: 1) cerebral malaria (HR 3.32; 95% CI 1.94–5.66, p < 0.001), 2) presenting with multiple seizures (HR 2.45; 95% CI 1.42–4.23, p = 0.001), 3) focal seizures (HR 2.86; 95% CI 1.49–5.49, p = 0.002), 4) recent use of diazepam (HR 2.43; 95% CI 1.19–4.95, p = 0.01) and 5) initial control of the seizure with diazepam (HR 1.96; 95% CI 1.16–3.33, p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Specific predictors, including cerebral malaria, can identify patients with malaria at risk of anti-convulsant treatment failure and seizure recurrence.

Diagnosis and management of the neurological complications of falciparum malaria

Malaria is a major public health problem in the developing world owing to its high rates of morbidity and mortality. Of all the malarial parasites that infect humans, Plasmodium falciparum is most commonly associated with neurological complications, which manifest as agitation, psychosis, seizures, impaired consciousness and coma (cerebral malaria). Cerebral malaria is the most severe neurological complication; the condition is associated with mortality of 15-20%, and a substantial proportion of individuals with this condition develop neurocognitive sequelae. In this Review, we describe the various neurological complications encountered in malaria, discuss the underlying pathogenesis, and outline current management strategies for these complications. Furthermore, we discuss the role of adjunctive therapies in improving outcome.

Cerebral malaria and epilepsy

Malaria, one of the most common parasitic diseases worldwide, is responsible for more than one million deaths among African children every year. Its neurological form, known as cerebral malaria (CM) is a potential cause of epilepsy in malaria-endemic regions of the world, primarily made up for the most part by the sub-Saharan Africa. Herein, we review recent African studies that examine the association between CM and epilepsy. Three studies suggest a modestly strong association between CM and epilepsy. Furthermore, there appears little doubt that this association is causal. Speculative considerations that may explain this causal association are discussed in this review. Additional research is however required in order to determine the clinical and electrographic behavior, the underlying structural and molecular basis, and course and outcome of this condition.