Clinical and epidemiological features of severe malaria in children in four hospitals in Sudan.

We assessed the clinical and epidemiological features of severe malaria cases before admission, management in hospital and outcome and associated factors in 4 hospitals in different areas of Sudan over a 5-month period in 2000. There were 543 children admitted representing 21% of all paediatric admissions. Median age was 36 months. Treatment at home was the first action taken by 57.5% of families. Case fatality rate was 5/1000 and 93% of the children who died were under 9 years. Highest risk of death was associated with delay in seeking treatment and severity of illness before admission. Omdurman Hospital in Khartoum had the best case-management performance index compared to the other hospitals.