Evaluating EEG as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in Malawian children with febrile coma

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Abstract Coma with fever is a common clinical presentation for children living in resource-limited countries. In endemic areas, malaria is the most common cause. We previously established that EEG is a prognostic biomarker in pediatric cerebral malaria (CM). In this research, we will use data previously collected as part of an observational study enrolling Malawian children with non-malarial coma to identify if EEG is a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in this patient group. We will evaluate whether there are differences in EEG studies in children with non-malarial coma and CM (a diagnostic biomarker). We will evaluate if there are EEG factors associated with hospital discharge outcomes in children with non-malarial febrile coma (a prognostic biomarker), as we did in our previous studies from children with CM. If EEG factors are associated with outcomes in children with non-malarial coma, we will compare them to the EEG factors associated with outcomes in children with CM. The results of this research may allow better clinical care of children with febrile coma, as it may help determine if the underlying cause of illness is malaria or non-malarial. It may help determine, at the time of admission, if a child with non-malarial coma is at higher risk of an adverse outcome.