Mannitol as Adjunct Therapy for Childhood Cerebral Malaria (NCT00113854) | Clinical Trial Compass
UnknownPhase 3
Mannitol as Adjunct Therapy for Childhood Cerebral Malaria
Uganda156 participantsStarted 2004-10
Plain-language summary
Cerebral malaria is a life-threatening complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection in African children and nonimmune travellers despite availability of quinine, the current drug of choice. Several reports have suggested that raised intracranial pressure (ICP) is a major cause of death among children with cerebral malaria. Mannitol, an osmotic diuretic, effectively lowers ICP and is used to treat post traumatic raised ICP. There have been some case reports of reduction in mortality and morbidity in African children with cerebral malaria following administration of mannitol, but as these were not randomized controlled trials it is difficult to evaluate their significance. This study seeks to establish whether a single dose of intravenous mannitol given to children with cerebral malaria will significantly reduce the coma recovery time.
Who can participate
Age range
6 Months – 5 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Children aged 6 months to 5 years admitted to the Mulago hospital acute care unit during the study period with cerebral malaria: (seizures and unarousable coma lasting more than 30 minutes after seizures have stopped, with asexual forms of P. falciparum on the blood film, with no other cause of coma) and whose carers gave informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Children with evidence of having received any sedation within two hours prior to admission to the acute care unit.
* Also exclude children with clinical signs of pulmonary congestion, or heart failure, or renal disease, or shock
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Coma recovery time (that is time from beginning of antimalarial treatment until patient has fully regained consciousness).