Predictors of outcome in childhood Plasmodium falciparum malaria
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Patel, Harsita
Dunican, Claire
Cunnington, Aubrey
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum malaria is classified as either uncomplicated or severe, determining clinical management and providing a framework for understanding pathogenesis. Severe malaria in children is defined by the presence of one or more features associated with adverse outcome, but there is wide variation in the predictive value of these features. Here we review the evidence for the usefulness of these features, alone and in combination, to predict death and other adverse outcomes, and we consider the role that molecular biomarkers may play in augmenting this prediction. We also examine whether a more personalized approach to predicting outcome for specific presenting syndromes of severe malaria, particularly cerebral malaria, has the potential to be more accurate. We note a general need for better external validation in studies of outcome predictors and for the demonstration that predictors can be used to guide clinical management in a way that improves survival and long-term health.
Date Issued
2020-02-17
Date Acceptance
2020-01-20
Citation
Virulence, 2020, 11 (1), pp.199-221
ISSN
2150-5594
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Open
Start Page
199
End Page
221
Journal / Book Title
Virulence
Volume
11
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Sponsor
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Grant Number
MR/L006529/1
Subjects
Plasmodium falciparum
Severe malaria
cerebral malaria
childhood malaria
metabolic acidosis
molecular biomarkers
outcome prediction
prognosis
respiratory distress
severe malarial anemia
0501 Ecological Applications
0605 Microbiology
1108 Medical Microbiology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2020-02-17