Table 1 Trial participants, interventions and outcomes

[8]

54 children aged 1 to 5 years in Nigeria

(1) IM Artemether 3.2 mg/kg in the first day, then 1.6 mg/kg for 4 days

Mortality, parasite clearance time, fever clearance time, coma resolution time, 28^th day cure rate, adverse effects & neurological sequelae

(2) IV Quinine 20 mg/kg loading dose then 10 mg 8 hrly for 7 days. This was changed to oral dose when patient was able to drink

[9]

160 children aged 5 month to 12 years in Kenya

(1) IM Artemether 3.2 mg/kg in the first day, then 1.6 mg/kg for 2 days. One dose of SP was given after parasite clearance.

Mortality, parasite clearance time, fever clearance time, coma resolution time, adverse effects & neurological sequelae

(2) IV Quinine 20 mg/kg loading dose then 10 mg 8 hrly for at least 3 days. Then one dose of SP was given after parasites clearance and when the patient was able to drink

[10]

576 children aged 1 to 9 years in Gambia

(1) IM Artemether 3.2 mg/kg in the first day, then 1.6 mg/kg for 3 days

Mortality, parasite clearance time, fever clearance time, coma resolution time, 28^th day cure rate, adverse effects & neurological sequelae

(2) IM Quinine 20 mg/kg loading dose then 10 mg 8 hrly for 5 days. This was changed to oral dose when the patient was able to drink

[11]

72 children aged 3 months to 14 years in Vietnam

(1) IM Artesunate 3 mg/kg initially and 2 mg/kg at 12, 24,48 and 72 hrs, followed by oral mefloquine 15 mg/kg at 96 hours

Mortality, parasite clearance time, fever clearance time, coma resolution time, duration of hospital stay, adverse effects & neurological sequelae

(2) IM Quinine 20 mg/kg loading dose then 10 mg 8 hrly for 7 days, followed by single dose of pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine on day 7

[12]

164 children in Malawi (age range not stated)

(1) IM Artemether 3.2 mg/kg in the first day, then 1.6 mg/kg for 4 days

Mortality, parasite clearance time, fever clearance time, coma resolution time, coma resolution time, 28^th day cure rate, adverse effects & neurological sequelae

(2) IV Quinine(20 mg/kg loading dose then 10 mg 8 hrly for 7 days, changed to oral dose when patient was able to drink

[13]

37 children in Nigeria (age range not stated)

(1) IM Artemether 3.2 mg/kg starting dose, then 1.6 mg/kg 12 hours later, then 1.6 mg/kg per day for 2 days

Mortality, percentage of children with parasites clearance at day 7, fever clearance time, coma resolution time & neurologic sequelae

(2) IV Quinine 10 mg/kg initial dose then 10 mg 8 hrly for 7 days, changed to oral dose when patient was able to drink

[14]

103 children aged 1 to 5 years in Nigeria

(1) IM Artemether 3.2 mg/kg in the first day, then 1.6 mg/kg for 4 days

Mortality, parasite clearance time, fever clearance time, coma resolution time, 28^th day cure rate & neurological sequelae

(2) IV Quinine 20 mg/kg loading dose then 10 mg 8 hrly for 7 days, changed to oral dose when patient was able to drink

[15]

92 children aged 0–10 years in Zambia

(1) IM β-Arteether 3.2 mg/kg in the first day, then 1.6 mg/kg for next 4 days

Mortality, parasite clearance time, fever clearance time, coma resolution time, adverse effects & neurological sequelae

(2) IV Quinine (20 mg/kg loading dose then 10 mg 8 hrly for 7 days, changed to oral dose when patient was able to drink

[16]

102 children aged 0–10 years in Cameroon

(1) IM β-Arteether 3.2 mg/kg in the first day, then 1.6 mg/kg for 4 days

Mortality, parasite clearance time, fever clearance time, coma resolution time, adverse effects, 28^th cure rate & neurological sequelae

(2) IV Quinine 20 mg/kg loading dose then 10 mg 8 hrly for 7 days, changed to oral dose when patient was able to drink

[17]

41 children in Sudan (age range not stated)

(1) IM Artemether 3.2 mg/kg in the first day, then 1.6 mg/kg for t 4 days

Mortality, parasite clearance time, fever clearance time, coma resolution time & adverse effects

(2) IV Quinine 20 mg/kg loading dose then 10 mg 8 hrly for 7 days, changed to oral dose when patient was able to drink

[18]

77 children aged 3 months to 15 years in Sudan

(1) IM Artemether 1.6 mg/kg, repeated after 12 hrs, then daily for 4 days

Mortality, parasite clearance time, fever clearance time, coma resolution time & 28^th day cure rate

(2) IV Quinine 10 mg/kg 8 hrly for 7 days, changed to oral dose when patient was able to drink

[19]

46 children aged 0–14 years from India

(1) IM Artemether 3.2 mg/kg in the first day, then 1.6 mg/kg for 5 days

Mortality, parasite clearance time, fever clearance time, coma resolution time & adverse effects

(2) IV Quinine (20 mg/kg loading dose then 10 mg 8 hrly for 7 days, changed to oral dose when patient was able to drink