Data on the physical function of children with cerebral malaria

We collected data from children with motor dysfunction living in Malawi from October 2, 2017 to November 15, 2017, using questionnaires and physical examinations. These data included diagnosis, birth history, medical history, and history of malaria based on interviews and patients’ personal medical records. The patients’ families provided consent to participate in this research. After applying the exclusion criteria, the remaining 33 patients (27%) were diagnosed with cerebral malaria (CM). We report the patients’ type of paralysis, muscle tone, age of malaria infection, and Gross Motor Functional Classification Score. This dataset reports basic data on the physical function of an underreported pediatric population with CM. Future comparative studies with other children with CM are needed to improve rehabilitation interventions.