In-hospital morbidity and mortality due to severe malarial anemia in western Kenya

Severe malarial anemia (SMA) is a leading cause of pediatric morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, and yet its contribution to malaria-specific mortality is not well documented. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 1,116 children < 5 years of age admitted to Siaya district hospital, western Kenya, to assess the contribution of SMA to overall in-hospital mortality. Of 1,116 admissions, 86% were under 3 years, 83% had malaria parasitemia, 86% were anemic, 21% were severely anemic, and 20% were transfused. Severe anemia was associated with parasitemia in 85% of the admissions and contributed to 53% of malaria-related deaths. Overall, 83 (7.5%) children died; 66% of those deaths were malaria-related, 12% had severe anemia, and 89% were under 3 years. Transfusion did not lower mortality rates. In areas of high malaria transmission, children below 3 years are a high-risk group for malaria, anemia, blood transfusion, and mortality.