Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsLess Common SymptomsComplicationsRecurrent InfectionsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Less Common Symptoms
Complications
Recurrent Infections
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
The physical effects of malaria occur largely because the parasite invades red blood cells, producing toxins, causinganemia(diminished red blood cell function), and potentially blocking small blood vessels throughout the body.
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Symptoms of the illness tend to occur in cycles, which correspond to the life cycle of the parasite.During different phases of the parasite’s life cycle, there is a variation in how the organism affects red blood cells and there is a variation in the impact of the toxins on the body.
There are several different species of malaria parasites, and they all cause similar symptoms. The different symptoms manifest at different phases of the illness.
You are likely to experience an incubation period after exposure to the parasite, with a delay in symptom onset. The first signs of malaria occur between one to four weeks after exposure and may take substantially longer in some instances.
The most common symptoms of malaria are:
Cyclic Symptoms
Cycles of fever that last from six to 24 hours may alternate with rounds of chills, shaking, and daytime sweating or night sweats. This cyclic characteristic is often the most recognizable sign of malaria, distinguishing it from other illnesses and infections. This feature will typically prompt your healthcare provider totest you for malaria.
Cyclic Malaria SymptomsFever—which can be very highChillsSweatsNight sweatsShaking
Cyclic Malaria Symptoms
Fever—which can be very highChillsSweatsNight sweatsShaking
Malaria can affect several body systems, particularly if it is untreated. Less common symptoms of malaria include:
If you notice these, particularly after travel to a malaria-prone area, seek prompt medical attention.
If you have immune system deficiencies, or if you are not in good health, you are more likely to develop complications.However, a healthy person with a strong immune system may also develop complications from malaria, even with recommended treatment.
In areas where malaria is endemic, children and pregnant women with malaria are at high risk of developing severe complications. Older children and adults in these areas may develop partial immunity and often experience milder cases. People with no exposure to malaria that travel to malaria-endemic regions are also at risk of getting a severe malaria infection.
Thrombocytopenia
A low platelet countcan interfere with blood clotting, manifesting as excessive bleeding or excessive blood clots.
Anemia
Hemolytic anemia(rupture of the blood cells) occurs with malaria. Sometimes, the infection can become advanced, causing a severely low red blood cell count or profoundly diminished red blood cell function. The symptoms of anemia include fatigue, headaches, and low blood pressure.
Kidney Involvement
Parasites inside the red blood cells may cause blockage of tiny vessels in the kidneys, or red blood cells may clump due to toxins. This can interfere with normal kidney function and may also cause pain.
Brain Involvement
Cerebral malaria, a condition in which the parasite is present in the blood cells in the brain, is relatively uncommon. Symptoms include seizures, motor weakness, vision loss, decreased consciousness, and coma. Cerebral malaria can lead to permanent neurological deficits or even death.
Loss of Consciousness or Coma
A rare complication of malaria, unresponsiveness can occur as a result of advanced disease, even without cerebral malaria.
Death
Malaria can result in death due to widespread complications. Prompt attention to symptoms is crucial to preventing complications and mortality.
Children are more likely to die from malaria complications than adults with the infection.
During Pregnancy
Most people who have a healthy immune system develop partial immunity to malaria.Repeated infections generally produce milder symptoms than initial infections, with a longer than usual incubation period.
However, it is possible for recurrent infections to become severe and progress, producing serious complications. This is why preventive measures are necessary, even if you’ve already had the infection.
If you have fevers, fatigue, new headaches, or persistent headaches, you should see your healthcare provider—these are common signs of most infections. If you have cyclical fevers, chills, and sweats, this is specifically suggestive of malaria infection.
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Possible signs and symptoms include:
Symptoms of malaria typically start eight to 17 days following infection but may develop later for people who have taken prophylactic (preventive) antimalarial drugs. A malaria species calledPlasmodium malariaecan take up to 40 days to become symptomatic and has even been known to cause disease years later.
If properly treated, an uncomplicated malaria infection will resolve within two weeks. If left untreated, malaria symptoms can rebound periodically over the course of years.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that malaria causes over 400,000 deaths every year. Children under age 5 account for the lion’s share of deaths, most of which occur in sub-Saharan Africa.In the United States, malaria was declared eliminated in 1951.
What Is Malaria?
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bartoloni A, Zammarchi L.Clinical aspects of uncomplicated and severe malaria.Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. 2012;4(1):e2012026. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2012.026Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About malaria.National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.Idro R, Marsh K, John CC, Newton CR.Cerebral malaria: mechanisms of brain injury and strategies for improved neurocognitive outcome.Pediatr Res. 2010;68(4):267-74. doi:10.1203/PDR.0b013e3181eee738Doolan DL, Dobaño C, Baird JK.Acquired immunity to malaria.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2009;22(1):13-36. doi:10.1128/CMR.00025-08Buck E, Finnigan NA.Malaria. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Xia J, Wu D, Wu K, et al.Epidemiology ofPlasmodium falciparummalaria and risk factors for severe disease in Gubei province, China.Am J Trop Med Hygiene. 2020;103(4):1534-9. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0299Zekar L, Sharman T.Plasmodium falciparummalaria. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.World Health Organization.Malaria.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Elimination of malaria in the United States (1947–1951).
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bartoloni A, Zammarchi L.Clinical aspects of uncomplicated and severe malaria.Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. 2012;4(1):e2012026. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2012.026Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About malaria.National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.Idro R, Marsh K, John CC, Newton CR.Cerebral malaria: mechanisms of brain injury and strategies for improved neurocognitive outcome.Pediatr Res. 2010;68(4):267-74. doi:10.1203/PDR.0b013e3181eee738Doolan DL, Dobaño C, Baird JK.Acquired immunity to malaria.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2009;22(1):13-36. doi:10.1128/CMR.00025-08Buck E, Finnigan NA.Malaria. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Xia J, Wu D, Wu K, et al.Epidemiology ofPlasmodium falciparummalaria and risk factors for severe disease in Gubei province, China.Am J Trop Med Hygiene. 2020;103(4):1534-9. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0299Zekar L, Sharman T.Plasmodium falciparummalaria. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.World Health Organization.Malaria.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Elimination of malaria in the United States (1947–1951).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bartoloni A, Zammarchi L.Clinical aspects of uncomplicated and severe malaria.Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. 2012;4(1):e2012026. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2012.026Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About malaria.National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.Idro R, Marsh K, John CC, Newton CR.Cerebral malaria: mechanisms of brain injury and strategies for improved neurocognitive outcome.Pediatr Res. 2010;68(4):267-74. doi:10.1203/PDR.0b013e3181eee738Doolan DL, Dobaño C, Baird JK.Acquired immunity to malaria.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2009;22(1):13-36. doi:10.1128/CMR.00025-08Buck E, Finnigan NA.Malaria. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Xia J, Wu D, Wu K, et al.Epidemiology ofPlasmodium falciparummalaria and risk factors for severe disease in Gubei province, China.Am J Trop Med Hygiene. 2020;103(4):1534-9. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0299Zekar L, Sharman T.Plasmodium falciparummalaria. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.World Health Organization.Malaria.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Elimination of malaria in the United States (1947–1951).
Bartoloni A, Zammarchi L.Clinical aspects of uncomplicated and severe malaria.Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. 2012;4(1):e2012026. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2012.026
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About malaria.
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.
Idro R, Marsh K, John CC, Newton CR.Cerebral malaria: mechanisms of brain injury and strategies for improved neurocognitive outcome.Pediatr Res. 2010;68(4):267-74. doi:10.1203/PDR.0b013e3181eee738
Doolan DL, Dobaño C, Baird JK.Acquired immunity to malaria.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2009;22(1):13-36. doi:10.1128/CMR.00025-08
Buck E, Finnigan NA.Malaria. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
Xia J, Wu D, Wu K, et al.Epidemiology ofPlasmodium falciparummalaria and risk factors for severe disease in Gubei province, China.Am J Trop Med Hygiene. 2020;103(4):1534-9. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0299
Zekar L, Sharman T.Plasmodium falciparummalaria. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
World Health Organization.Malaria.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Elimination of malaria in the United States (1947–1951).
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