No difference in IL-6 levels between patients with severe malaria and non-severe malaria among studies using bead-based assays for IL-6 measurement was observed (P = 0.097, WMD = 176.41 pg/mL, 95% CI =  − 32.14 –38.96 pg/mL, I2 = 99.9%, four studies; Fig. 6). Here, IL6 is linked to malaria.