Dysnatraemia in malaria

Abstract

Malaria is often associated with hyponatraemia, but neither the extent nor the probability of hyponatraemia has
been estimated and it is not clear whether they depend on the infective species. Analysis of reports of hyponatraemia shows
that it tends to be less severe in non-falciparum malaria than it is in falciparum malaria. However, the probability of observing
serum sodium concentrations of less than 130 mM decreases in the sequence cerebral falciparum = severe falciparum > vivax
> non-severe falciparum > knowlesi and falciparum > non- falciparum. In addition to a greater probability of hyponatraemia
in severe falciparum malaria than in non-severe falciparum malaria, the probability of hypernatraemia in falciparum malaria is
slightly greater than it is for healthy individuals.