This is the most dangerous complication of severe malaria as the brain is affected and can lead to rapid death. Young children, pregnant women and people who are HIV infected are particularly susceptible to cerebral malaria. Each year many children die of cerebral malaria in Africa.
Signs of cerebral malaria must always be viewed with great concern:
- Depressed level of consciousness, i.e. drowsy, unable to stand, confused or unconscious
- Convulsions
Confusion is an important sign of potentially fatal cerebral malaria.
In cerebral malaria the large numbers of parasites obstruct the normal blood flow to the brain.