A study was conducted to evaluate repeated intrathecal injections of baclofen, without artificial ventilation, in the treatment of severe tetanus. Ten patients, 5 men and 5 women, with a mean age of 34 +/- 7 years, were included in the study. The dose of baclofen injected was 1000 micrograms between the ages of 16 and 55 years, 800 micrograms over the age of 55 years and 500 micrograms under the age of 16 years. The efficacy was assessed on the basis of the resolution of contractures and paroxysms and the initial dose was reinjected prior to the reappearance of these symptoms. Treatment was discontinued in the case of central nervous system depression or inefficacy. The first injection was effective in 9 cases for 24-48 h. The haemodynamic safety was always good. Five patients developed central depression with coma and respiratory depression, requiring artificial ventilation in 3 cases and reversed by flumazenil in 2 cases. Five patients were treated exclusively with baclofen with 4 cures. Five patients had to be ventilated with only one cure. This study confirms earlier studies concerning the efficacy of intrathecal baclofen in tetanus. However, the frequency of episodes of respiratory depression prevents the recommendation of repeated injections when respiratory intensive care facilities are not available.

Diazepam, at the dose studied, does not appear to reverse the chloroquine-induced membrane-stabilising effect in acute moderately severe chloroquine intoxication. Supportive intensive care of these intoxications appears to be all that is necessary.

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P. falciparum malaria continues as the serial killer of over a million lives yearly, mainly for children in sub-Saharan Africa. For severe malaria, we are still on the quest for a prognostic marker of fatal outcome. We analysed the association between serum levels of Procalcitonin (PCT), a marker of septic inflammation, and clinical outcome in Senegalese patients admitted with confirmed cerebral malaria in the intensive care facility of Hopital Principal. A total of 98 patients living in the hypoendemic urban area of Dakar, Senegal, were enrolled during transmission seasons. Levels of PCT were compared between surviving vs the 26.5 % fatal cases in blood samples of the 3 days following hospitalisation. Mean PCT levels were elevated in patients with active infection, with a large range of values (0.1 to 280 nanog per mL), significantly higher on day 0 in fatal cases than in surviving (53.6 vs 27.3; P=0.01). No exact individual threshold level could indicate occurrence of fatality, however mortality could be most accurately predicted by PCT level above 69 nanog per ML and there was a very clear different profile of evolution of PCT levels on the 3 days of observation decreasing early from day 1 in surviving patients (P<10–3), contrary to fatal cases. These results indicate that PCT kinetic rather than intrinsic level could be of use to predict a reduced risk of fatality in patient with cerebral malaria and could serve as potential predicting marker for severe malaria

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