Overview
Malaria is a parasitic infection spread by the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes, which bite mainly between dusk and dawn. It classically causes fever that comes in cycles with chills and drenching sweats. Diagnosed with a simple blood test, malaria is fully curable with the right medicines — but falciparum malaria can turn severe quickly and must never be ignored.
Symptoms
- Fever with shaking chills, often in cycles
- Drenching sweats as the fever breaks
- Headache and body ache
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Tiredness and weakness between fever spikes
When to see a doctor
Get a malaria blood test the same day for any fever with chills during monsoon or in a malaria-prone area. Complete the full course of antimalarial medicine exactly as prescribed.
Emergency — call 108 or go to the nearest hospital
- Drowsiness, confusion or fits
- Dark or very little urine, yellow eyes, or severe breathlessness — signs of severe malaria; go to a hospital immediately
Causes
Plasmodium parasites transmitted by the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant water and bite at night.