Non-traumatic coma in young children in Benin: are viral and bacterial infections gaining ground on cerebral malaria?

Table 2 Clinical manifestations and laboratory indices of severity at admission

	Survived (n = 59)	Died (n = 25)	P-value
Blantyre Coma Score			0.004
0 or 1	14 (23.7)	14 (56.0)
2	45 (76.3)	11 (44.0)
Prostration^a	39 (66.1)	17 (68.0)	0.87
Multiple convulsions^b	29 (49.2)	11 (44.0)	0.62
Respiratory distress or acidotic breathing	11 (18.6)	10 (40.0)	0.04
Shock, systolic blood pressure < 50 mmHg	2 (3.4)	2 (8.0)	0.58
Jaundice or increased bilirubin > 50 μmol/L	18 (30.5)	17 (68.0)	0.002
Abnormal bleeding^c	1 (1.7)	2 (8.0)	0.21
Hypoglycemia (glucose < 2.2 mmol/L)	13 (22.0)	15 (60.0)	0.0007
Acidosis (plasma bicarbonate < 15 mmol/L)	20 (34.5)	20 (80.0)	0.0001
Hyperlactatemia (venous plasma lactate > 5 mmol/L)	27 (46.5)	21 (84.0)	0.002
Severe anemia (hemoglobin < 50 g/L, hematocrit < 15%)	22 (37.3)	10 (40.0)	0.81
Renal impairment (serum creatinine > 265 μmol/L	0 (0.0)	2 (9.1)	0.07

Data are numbers (%) of children, unless otherwise indicated
^aGeneralized weakness such that the patient is unable to sit, stand, or walk without assistance
^bMore than two episodes within 24 h
^cIncluding recurrent or prolonged bleeding from the nose, gums, or venipuncture sites; hematemesis or melena

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