Clinical and laboratory criteria for severe malaria (from (4))
| Clinical manifestations | Prognosis value | Frequency in children |
| Impaired consciousness | +++ | +++ |
| Respiratory distress | +++ | +++ |
| Multiple convulsions | + | +++ |
| Prostration | + | +++ |
| Shock | +++ | + |
| Pulmonary oedema (radiology) | +++ | +/− |
| Abnormal bleeding | +++ | +/− |
| Jaundice | ++ | + |
| Laboratory indices | Prognosis value | Frequency |
| Severe anaemia (haemoglobin <5 g/dL or haematocrit <15%) | + | +++ |
| Hypoglycaemia (<40 mg/dL) | +++ | +++ |
| Acidosis (bicarbonate <15 mM) | +++ | +++ |
| Hyperlactataemia (lactates >5 mM) | +++ | +++ |
| Renal impairment (creatinin >3 mg/dL) | ++ | + |
| Hyperparasitaemia (parasitaemia >10%) | +/- | ++ |