IFNG and malaria: The subgroup analysis by the age of the enrolled patients showed no differences in mean IFN-γ levels in patients with severe malaria and those with uncomplicated malaria in children (MD 5.76 pg/mL, 95% CI − 4.98–16.5 pg/mL, I2: 98.15%, seven studies, 311 severe cases/268 uncomplicated cases) and all age groups (MD 9.43 pg/mL, 95% CI − 10.91–29.76 pg/mL, I2: 98.38%, four studies, 159 severe cases/619 uncomplicated cases).