The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
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Comparative Study
APACHE II scoring for predicting outcome in cerebral malaria.
The APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) severity-of-disease classification system was used to stratify the prognosis of 72 adult patients with cerebral malaria. Overall mortality was 13.89%. ⋯ High APACHE II score, deep unconsciousness, acute renal failure and acidaemia were identified as poor prognostic factors. We suggest that the APACHE II system is useful for stratifying the prognosis of group outcome in cerebral malaria patients.
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Detailed standardized annual reports are analysed for 17 rural hospitals in four African countries, with admission figures of 1.2 million patients (excluding deliveries) and more than 67,000 deaths over a period of 16 years. The countries involved are Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Ghana. Figures on admission, causes of death and clinical case fatality rates are presented per country and per 4-year calendar period for the most important infectious diseases. ⋯ A need for detailed studies with good "standardized" hospital records is emphasized. Representative data are needed from all hospitals in a given catchment area, with defined diagnoses for diseases and details regarding age and sex. This kind of information is highly desirable for planning and operation of curative and preventive medical care in developing countries.