Results showed a higher mean CRP level in patients with uncomplicated malaria than in those with febrile/healthy controls as estimated by the random-effects model (p: 0.04, SMD: 1.02, 95% CI: − 0.031–2.00, 17 studies) and by the fixed-effects model (p < 0.001, SMD: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.7–0.92, 17 studies). The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is malaria.