Research: Cerebral malaria9 November 2006 |
The eye can provide a very reliable way of diagnosing cerebral malaria, researchers in Malawi have shown. By looking at the changes to the retina, doctors are able to determine whether an unconscious child is suffering from this severe form of malaria or another, unrelated illness, leading to the most appropriate treatment.
Because malaria is so common in Africa, children may have an incidental malaria infection while actually having another life-threatening illness. This can confuse the diagnosis in an unconscious child. Doctors hope that widespread use of eye examination could greatly reduce the number of children dying from this major childhood killer.
A study funded by the Wellcome Trust and the National Institutes of Health, led by Dr Nick Beare of the St Paul's Eye Unit, Liverpool has shown that changes to the retina were the only clinical sign or laboratory test that could distinguish between patients who actually died from cerebral malaria and those with another cause of death. The results of their study are published in the latest edition of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.