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Table 1 Definitions used for respiratory complications associated to severe malaria

From: Are respiratory complications of Plasmodium vivax malaria an underestimated problem?

Author, year (References)

Name

Definition

WHO 2014 [12]

Severe malaria

Respiratory distress Rapid, deep and labored breathing (severe acidosis)

 Mild—sustained nasal flaring and/or mild intercostal indrawing (recession)

 Severe—the presence of either marked indrawing (recession) of the bony structure of the lower chest wall or deep (acidotic) breathing

Pulmonary oedema Radiologically confirmed, or oxygen saturation < 92% on room air with a respiratory rate > 30/min, often with chest indrawing and diffuse wheeze or crepitation on pulmonary auscultation

ARDS Definition Task Force 2012 [16]

Acute respiratory distress syndrome: the Berlin definition

Timing Within 1 week of a known clinical insult or new or worsening respiratory symptoms

Chest imaging (chest radiograph or computed tomography scan) Bilateral opacities—not fully explained by effusions, lobar/lung collapse, or nodules

Origin of oedema Respiratory failure not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload. Need objective assessment (e.g., echocardiography) to exclude hydrostatic edema if no risk factor present

Oxygenation

 Mild: PaO2/FiO2 200—300 mmHg with PEEP or CPAP ≥ 5 cm H2O

 Moderate: PaO2/FiO2 100—200 mmHg with PEEP ≥ 5 cm H2O

 Severe: PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 100 mmHg with PEEP ≥ 5 cm H2O

  1. ARDS acute respiratory distress syndrome, FiO 2 fraction of inspired oxygen, IQR inter-quartile range, PaO 2 arterial partial pressure of oxygen, PEEP positive end-expiratory pressure