Persistent neurological sequelae due to cerebral malaria in a cohort of children from Mali.

Introduction. Several neurological complications are associated with cerebral malaria (CM). However, few long-term data from childhood survivors have been published. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Mali among children followed from 1999 to 2002 after serious and complicated malaria. Our aim was to evaluate the persistent neurological sequelae associated with CM. Results. This study concerned 101 subjects who had had CM. Mean age was 5.6 +/- 3.6 years. Twenty-eight children presented persistent neurological sequelae (27.7p.cent). Among them eight (7.9p.cent) children had developed these sequelae just after CM and 20 (19.8p.cent) a few months later: headaches, mental retardation, speech delay, bucco-facial dyspraxia, diplegia and frontal syndrome (one case each), dystonia (two cases), epilepsy (five cases) and behavior and attention disorders (15 cases). Conclusions. In this study, we show that neurological signs due to CM can persist in the long run. Long-term follow-up and proper management after CM are essential.