CRP and malaria: No difference was observed in the mean CRP level in patients with severe malaria compared with patients with uncomplicated malaria in studies conducted in Africa (p: 0.05, SMD: 1.05, 95% CI: − 0.01–2.51, I2: 96.9%, four studies) and America (p: 0.18, SMD: 3.22, 95% CI: − 1.48–7.93, I2: 98.4%, two studies) (Fig. 3).