Risk Factors for Severe Malaria in Children Aged 6 Months to 12 Years in a Tertiary Care Setting
Background: Severe malaria remains a leading cause of paediatric morbidity and mortality in tropical regions, including India. Identifying modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for severe disease progression in children is essential for early clinical stratification and targeted therapeutic intervention. Objectives: To determine the prevalence, clinical spectrum, and independent risk factors associated with severe malaria in children aged 6 months to 12 years admitted to tertiary care hospitals in Hyderabad and Nellore, India, during May 2021 to March 2022. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 60 children diagnosed with malaria at Malla Reddy Medical College for Women, Hyderabad and Narayana Medical College, Nellore. Children were classified into severe (n=38) and non-severe (n=22) malaria groups based on WHO 2015 criteria. Clinical, demographic, haematological, and parasitological parameters were analysed. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify independent predictors of severe disease. Results: Of 60 enrolled children, 38 (63.3%) fulfilled criteria for severe malaria. Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant species (60.0%) and was strongly associated with severe disease (adjusted OR 4.12; 95% CI 1.62–10.48; p=0.003). Severe acute malnutrition (OR 3.46; p=0.021), high parasite density >100,000/µL (OR 4.98; p<0.001), age 6–24 months (OR 2.06; p=0.042), incomplete vaccination status (OR 2.48; p=0.036), and delayed hospital presentation >72 hours (OR 2.84; p=0.028) were identified as significant independent risk factors. Severe anaemia and cerebral malaria were the most frequent severe manifestations, observed in 47.4% and 36.8% of severe cases, respectively. Conclusion: P. falciparum infection, severe malnutrition, high parasite burden, young age, incomplete immunisation, and delayed care-seeking significantly predict severe malaria in children in tertiary care settings. Early identification of these risk factors, combined with prompt antimalarial treatment and nutritional rehabilitation, is imperative to reduce severe malaria-associated paediatric mortality.