Spontaneous and quinine induced hypoglycaemia in severe falciparum malaria

Four of 21 patients with cerebral malaria developed hypoglycaemia, defined as plasma glucose concentration below 40 mg/dl (2.2 mmol/l). Two patients had spontaneous hypoglycaemia at admission and the other two developed it subsequent to quinine therapy. All recovered with continuous intravenous glucose infusion. Spontaneous hypoglycaemia in malaria has not earlier been reported from India.