| Characteristics | Case (n = 17) | Control (n = 66) | Odds ratio | 95% CI | p |
| Male gender | 13 (77) | 46 (70) | 1.41 | 0.36 - 5.90 | 0.766 |
| Age in months (median, IQR) | 7.0 (2.5, 13.5) | 12.0 (4.9, 27.0) | - | - | 0.098 |
| High fever (axillary temperature ≥ 39˚) | 8 (47) | 28 (42) | 1.21 | 0.36 - 3.98 | 0.944 |
| Seizure | 13 (87) | 52 (84) | 1.25 | 0.21 - 9.41 | 1.000 |
| Altered mental status/unconsciousness | 12 (71) | 28 (42) | 3.26 | 0.92 - 12.13 | 0.071 |
| Preceding respiratory symptoms (cough, difficult breathing) | 11 (69) | 21 (33) | 4.50 | 1.23 - 17.37 | 0.019 |
| Preceding GI symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting) | 11 (65) | 58 (88) | 0.30 | 0.07 - 1.32 | 0.118 |
| H/O Febrile convulsion | 1 (14) | 3 (11) | 1.39 | 0.0 - 21.16 | 1.000 |
| H/O taking antibiotics during this illness | 11 (79) | 20 (53) | 3.30 | 0.68 - 17.87 | 0.169 |
| Severe wasting | 3(30) | 9(23) | 1.43 | 0.23 - 8.26 | 0.689 |
| Respiratory rate (mean ± SD), MD* | 50.1 ± 13.1 | 45.9 ± 13.2 | 4.14* | −3.22 - 11.50 | 0.266 |
| Dehydration (some/severe) | 9 (53) | 29 (44) | 1.20 | 0.36 - 40.03 | 0.952 |
| Hypoglycemia at presentation (<3 mmol/l) | 1 (8) | 5 (9) | 0.83 | - | 1.000 |
| Neck rigidity | 4 (40) | 6 (23) | 2.22 | 0.36 - 13.89 | 0.912 |
| Kernig sign | 1 (13) | 5 (21) | 0.54 | 0.02 - 6.72 | 1.000 |
| Brudzinski sign | 1(20) | 1 (13) | 1.75 | 0.0 - 92.99 | 1.000 |
| Abnormal DTR | 10 (59) | 19 (29) | 3.16 | 0.29 - 79.69 | 0.399 |
| Abnormal planter response | 11 (65) | 40 (60) | 0.82 | 0.19 - 3.76) | 0.792 |
| Severe sepsis | 10 (59) | 11 (17) | 7.14 | 1.95 - 27.13 | 0.0009 |
| Associated anemia | 9 (53) | 30 (45) | 1.31 | 0.40 - 4.35 | 0.821 |
| Hypernatremia at admission (s. sodium >150 mmol/l) | 3 (18) | 9 (14) | 1.33 | 0.25 - 6.50 | 0.706 |
| Hyponatremia at admission (s. sodium <135 mmol/l) | 9 (53) | 26 (40) | 1.69 | 0.51 - 5.62 | 0.492 |
| Leucocytosis at admission | 10 (59) | 17 (26) | 4.03 | 1.17 - 14.25 | 0.024 |
| Neutrophillia at admission | 7 (41) | 9 (14) | 4.36 | 1.13 - 17.00 | 0.018 |
| AWD | 6 (35) | 24 (36) | 1.08 | 0.30 - 3.90 | 0.874 |
| Pneumonia | 7 (41) | 10 (15) | 4.64 | 1.17 - 18.70 | 0.016 |
| Hypoxaemia (SpO2 < 90%) | 10 (63) | 14 (23) | 5.71 | 1.55 - 21.93 | 0.004 |
| Anti seizure agent given | 16 (94) | 50 (76) | 5.12 | 0.62 - 111.48 | 0.174 |
| Blood transfusion given | 5 (29) | 5 (8) | 5.00 | 1.04 - 24.59 | 0.028 |
| Use of inotropes | 5 (29) | 4 (6) | 6.46 | 1.25 - 34.85 | 0.015 |
| ET intubation & MV required | 3 (18) | 1 (2) | 13.29 | 1.09 - 359.20 | 0.028 |
| Growth in blood culture | 4 (29) | 9 (14) | 2.44 | 0.51 - 11.30 | 0.234 |
| Growth in urine culture | 4 (29) | 14 (22) | 1.37 | 0.25 - 7.38 | 0.715 |
| Growth in stool culture | 0 | 10 (15) | 0 | 0 - 1.95 | 0.114 |
| Outcome (death) | 5 (29) | 2 (3) | 13.33 | 1.93 - 114.53 | 0.003 |