CRP and malaria: When the severity criteria were also entered in the regression model, serum sodium < 131 mmol/L and CRP > 175 mg/L were the only remaining independent variables with Odds ratio's of 10.4 (95% Confidence Interval 3.1 - 34.9) and 4.8 (95% CI 1.6 - 15.0) for severe malaria, respectively, suggesting that determination of these parameters might contribute to an early recognition of patients with severe malaria on admission.