Serum Cytokine Profiles and the Severity of Malaria in Paediatric Patients in Kebbi State

The immunopathology of severe malaria in children involves dysregulated cytokine responses that determine the transition from uncomplicated to life-threatening disease. This study examines serum cytokine profiles, specifically TNF-alpha, IL-10, IL-6, IFN-gamma, and IL-1 beta, in paediatric patients with varying severity of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. A hospital-based case-control design was employed, enrolling 60 children with severe malaria, 60 with uncomplicated malaria, and 60 malaria-negative healthy children matched for age and nutritional status. Cytokines were measured using multiplexed bead-based immunoassay. Parasitaemia was quantified by thick blood film microscopy, and clinical severity was assessed by WHO criteria. Haematological parameters and biochemical markers of organ dysfunction, including serum creatinine and bilirubin, were also measured. Discriminant analysis identified the cytokine combination with the greatest discriminatory power between severe and uncomplicated malaria. The study also examines the immunoregulatory TNF-alpha-to-IL-10 ratio as a predictor of severe outcome. Findings will contribute to the immunobiochemical understanding of paediatric severe malaria in North West Nigeria. Keywords: cytokine profiles, severe malaria, TNF-alpha, interleukin-10, Kebbi State.