Malaria Symptoms

Quick Glance: Common Malaria Symptoms

The most common malaria symptoms include:

• Fever

• Chills or shivering

• Headache

• Sweating

• Muscle aches or body aches

• Unusual tiredness or weakness

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhoea

Malaria symptoms can vary from person to person and may resemble other infections. This is why testing is important when malaria is suspected.

Malaria Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored

Some malaria symptoms can indicate that the infection is becoming severe or affecting the blood or vital organs. The table below explains warning symptoms of malaria and what they may indicate:

These symptoms do not confirm severe malaria on their own, but they require prompt medical evaluation, particularly when malaria is suspected or has already been diagnosed.

Why Do Malaria Symptoms Occur?

Malaria symptoms occur after an infected mosquito bites an individual and transfers microscopic Plasmodium parasites through the bite. After an infected mosquito bite, Plasmodium parasites first reach the liver, where they multiply. They then enter the bloodstream and infect red blood cells.

When infected red blood cells rupture, they release parasites and trigger an immune response. This process contributes to fever, chills, sweating, headache and muscle aches.

Malaria can also destroy red blood cells, reducing haemoglobin levels and causing anaemia. Anaemia may lead to weakness, tiredness, pale skin and breathlessness. Extensive red blood cell breakdown can also contribute to jaundice and dark or reddish-brown urine.

In Plasmodium falciparum malaria, infected red blood cells can adhere to the walls of small blood vessels and interfere with blood flow. This can reduce oxygen delivery and contribute to severe complications involving organs such as the brain, kidneys and lungs.

Malaria Symptoms That Require Immediate Medical Attention

Urgent medical attention is required if someone with suspected or confirmed malaria develops:

• Confusion, reduced alertness or loss of consciousness

• Seizures or convulsions

• Severe difficulty breathing

• Severe weakness or inability to sit, stand or function normally

• Persistent vomiting or inability to drink

• Very little or no urine

• Dark or bloody urine

• Collapse or signs of shock

• Abnormal bleeding

These symptoms can indicate severe malaria or complications affecting the brain, lungs, kidneys, blood or circulation. Early emergency care is important because severe malaria can deteriorate quickly.

Symptoms of Malaria Based on Type

The table below explains the typical symptom patterns and important clinical features associated with the five Plasmodium species that can cause malaria in humans:

The symptoms can overlap between malaria species, so the parasite species cannot be identified from symptoms alone. Laboratory testing is needed to confirm malaria and, where possible, identify the infecting species.

Symptoms of Malaria in Women

Malaria generally causes the same symptoms in women as in men, including fever, chills, headache, weakness, nausea and vomiting. However, pregnancy increases the risk of severe malaria and can affect both the mother and baby.

Pregnant women with possible malaria symptoms, particularly after exposure in a malaria-risk area, should seek prompt medical assessment and testing. Malaria during pregnancy is associated with maternal anaemia and pregnancy complications, including premature birth and low birth weight.

Symptoms of Malaria in Children

Children, particularly those under 5 years of age, have a higher risk of severe malaria. Fever may occur with chills, headache, vomiting, weakness, poor feeding or unusual sleepiness.

A child with suspected malaria needs urgent medical assessment if they develop signs such as:

• Severe weakness or inability to sit, drink or feed

• Very pale skin, gums or nail beds

• Difficulty breathing or unusually fast breathing

• Seizures or convulsions

• Confusion or reduced responsiveness

• Difficulty waking or marked drowsiness

Severe anaemia, respiratory distress and cerebral malaria are important severe symptoms in children.

Can You Have Malaria Without Symptoms?

Yes. In areas where malaria transmission is common, some people can carry malaria parasites without noticeable symptoms. Partial immunity developed after repeated exposure can reduce the likelihood of severe illness, although it does not provide complete protection.

The absence of fever or chills does not always rule out malaria. When malaria is suspected because of relevant exposure or other symptoms, parasite-based testing with microscopy or a rapid diagnostic test is recommended rather than relying on symptoms alone.

When Can Malaria Symptoms Become Life-Threatening?

Malaria can become life-threatening when the infection causes severe complications involving the brain, blood, kidneys, lungs or circulation. These complications need immediate medical care. The table below explains the main life-threatening complications associated with severe malaria and why they require urgent attention:

Severe malaria can involve more than one complication at the same time, particularly when diagnosis and treatment are delayed.

How are Malaria Symptoms Diagnosed?

Malaria symptoms can resemble several other infections, and so symptoms alone cannot confirm malaria. Doctors use parasite-based tests along with a clinical assessment and, when necessary, blood tests to identify complications.

The table below explains the main tests and assessments used to diagnose malaria:

WHO recommends prompt parasite-based diagnosis using microscopy or an RDT for people with suspected malaria. Microscopy can also help identify parasite species and estimate the number of parasites in the blood.