Cerebral malaria in children.

Introduction: Cerebral malaria is a severe complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection which may account for 80% deaths of patients admitted to the hospitals. 1 Cerebral malaria may be gradual in onset, but it is commonly sudden, a progressive headache, may be followed by a coma, uncontrollable rise in temperature to above 108 "F. and psychotic symptoms or convulsions, specially in children . Death may be certain in a matter of hours. In diagnosis based on symptoms alone, Malaria cannot be distinguished from other febrile illness, and the species of Plasmodium causing the fever, if any, cannot be identified. 2