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Table 2 Brainstem features of raised ICP, seizures after admission and type of posturing

From: Decorticate, decerebrate and opisthotonic posturing and seizures in Kenyan children with cerebral malaria

Brainstem signs and seizures after admission

No Posturing (%)

Decorticate posturing (%)

P value

Decerebrate posturing (%)

P value

Opisthotonus posturing (%)

P value

Number

254

80

 

61

 

22

 

Deterioration in level of consciousness

64 (25.2)

43 (53.8)

< 0.001

25 (41.0)

0.01

14 (63.6)

<0.001

Pupillary reaction

       

   Sluggish

82 (32.4)

32 (40.0)

0.21

25 (41.0)

0.20

10 (45.5)

0.21

   Fixed

12 (4.7)

1 (1.3)

0.32*

4 (6.6)

0.52*

2 (9.1)

0.31*

Pupil sizes

       

   Constricted

42 (16.5)

6 (7.5)

0.05

5 (8.2)

0.10

3 (13.6)

1.00*

   Dilated

41 (16.2)

20 (25.0)

0.08

17 (27.9)

0.03

6 (27.3)

0.19

   Unequal

3 (1.2)

2 (2.5)

0.60*

3 (4.9)

0.09*

1 (4.5)

0.28*

Dysconjugate vision

42 (17.1)

27 (33.8)

< 0.01

13 (21.3)

0.44

8 (36.3)

0.02

Ocular fundi

       

   Congested retinal veins

11 (4.3)

11 (13.8)

< 0.01

2 (3.3)

1.00*

4 (18.2)

0.02*

   Blurred disc margins

6 (2.4)

6 (7.5)

0.03

6 (9.8)

<0.01

2 (9.1)

0.13*

   Papilloedema

4 (2.4)

3 (3.8)

0.37*

7 (11.5)

<0.001

1 (4.5)

0.34*

   Retinal haemorrhages

18 (7.1)

12 (15)

0.03

11 (18.0)

<0.01

3 (13.6)

0.23*

Any fundoscopic evidence of Raised Intracranial Pressure

16 (6.3)

15 (18.8)

< 0.01

12 (19.7)

0.001

5 (22.7)

<0.01

Horizontal oculocephalic deviation

       

   No deviation

17 (6.7)

6 (7.5)

0.80

3 (4.9)

0.78*

2 (9.1)

0.66*

   Minimal deviation

44 (17.3)

12 (15)

0.63

10 (16.4)

0.86

5 (22.7)

0.53

Respiration

       

   Irregular

49 (19.3)

13 (16.3)

0.54

20 (32.8)

0.02

5 (22.7)

0.70

   Shallow

42 (16.5)

5 (6.3)

0.02

12 (19.7)

0.56

3 (13.6)

1.00*

   Respiratory arrest with good cardiac Output

12 (4.7)

10 (12.5)

0.01

6 (9.8)

0.12

3 (13.6)

0.11*

Clinical seizures observed in the ward

129 (50.8)

48 (60.0)

0.15

42 (68.9)

0.01

17 (77.3)

0.02

5 or more seizures in the ward

29 (11.4)

13 (16.3)

0.26

13 (21.3)

0.04

6 (27.3)

0.03

Type of clinical seizure

       

   Partial

74 (29.1)

31 (38.8)

0.11

22 (36.1)

0.29

13 (59.1)

<0.01

   Partial with secondary generalization

29 (11.4)

13 (16.3)

0.26

9 (14.8)

0.47

5 (22.7)

0.12

   Generalised

81 (31.9)

29 (36.3)

0.47

30 (49.2)

0.01

8 (36.4)

0.67

  1. * Fisher's exact test
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Malaria Journal

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