Objective: To study the incidence of Papilledema with relation to outcome in children with Cerebral and Non-cerebral malaria

Design: Prospective, observational, cohort study, comprising of all malaria positive patients.

Setting: Department of Pediatrics, S.S.M.C and associated G.M. Hospital Rewa, Madhya Pradesh during the period of 1^st August 2015 to 31^st July 2016.

Participants: 100 consecutive patients with cerebral malaria and 100 patients with non-cerebral malaria were included in the study. All 200 cases were malaria positive. All children were evaluated by ophthalmologist for changes of retinopathy

Main Outcome Measure(s): Retinopathic changes and its correlation with mortality and duration of hospitalisation.

Results: In our study papilledema was seen in 25% and 6% of cases in CM and non-CM groups respectively. Mortality was 56% and 17% in patient having papilledema in CM and non-CM groups respectively. Mortality was significantly associated with papilledema in CM group.

Conclusions: In our study mortality was 56% and 17% in patient having papilledema in CM and non-CM groups respectively..This shows that in Cerebral malaria group a very high mortality was present in patients who had papilledema. Mortality was significantly associated with papilledema in CM group suggesting that patients having papilledema are at increased risk of dying.Therefore presence of papilledema in malaria can be used as a marker of serious disease and as an indication for intensive management of these cases.
Keywords: Malaria, Cerebral Malaria, Papilledema,Mortality.

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Dr Puneet Agrawal

Room no.8, PG Boys Hostel, S.S. Medical College,

Rewa (M.P.), Pin – 486001 India

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