TNF and malaria: Although some investigators have reported an association between overproduction of some pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and CM pathogenesis [5], disease severity and death [6] others reported lack of association between TNF concentration and malaria severity in Ugandan children [7].