Severe Malaria and Risk Factors for Death in the Infectious Diseases Department of the University Hospital of Fann in Dakar, Senegal

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical and outcome aspects of severe malaria and to determine the risk factors for death.

Methodology: This was a retrospective descriptive and analytical study of patients treated for severe malaria at the infectious and tropical diseases department of the University Hospital center of Fann between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for death

Results: During our study, 138 patients were hospitalized for severe malaria over a period of 3 years, with a peak in the months of october and november. They were mostly from urban areas (68.11%). The average consultation time was 6.7 days ± 7.1 days. There was a clear male predominance, with a sex ratio of 3.18. The average age of patients was 33.96 ± 17 years. The main signs of clinical severity were coma (44.2%), prostration (36.95%) and jaundice (61.5%). Biological signs included anaemia (14.49%) and renal failure (9.42%). Severe malaria was associated with SARS Cov 2 infection in 4 patients. All patients were treated with injectable artesunate. The average length of hospitalization was 6 ± 6 days. Case fatality was 10.7. In multivariate analysis, coma (ORa =12.29 IC95%: 2.0 - 73.22 P=0.006) and severe anaemia (ORa=27.16 IC95%: 3.4 - 217.18 P=0.006) were risk factors associated with death.

Conclusion: Early recognition of the signs of seriousness and their early management thanks to improved technical facilities in intensive care units can improve the prognosis of patients.