Ophthalmoscopic abnormalities in adults with falciparum malaria.

Summary We studied 424 adults with falciparum malaria oedema, six (2.80%) cerebral and five non-cerebraladmitted over 28 months. They were divided into malaria; disc pallor, five patients all with cerebralthree groups: cerebral malaria ( n =214); severe non- malaria; vitreous haemorrhage and hard exudate incerebral malaria ( n =58); and uncomplicated mal- one patient each, both cerebral malaria. Retinalaria ( n =152). Fundus examination was done daily haemorrhage was associated with cerebral malariafrom admission to discharge, and weekly thereafter and severe non-cerebral malaria, especially within those with persistent changes. All patients were severe anaemia ( p <0.001), as compared to uncom-treated by a protocol based on WHO guidelines. plicated malaria ( p <0.01). The association of papil-Ophthalmoscopic abnormalities were: retinal haem- loedema and cerebral malaria was highly significantorrhages, 40 (9.43%) (25 cerebral malaria, 10 severe compared to severe non-cerebral malaria (