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Malaria

Low urgency
Very commonModerately severe
Malaria is a severe infectious disease caused by a parasite of the genus Plasmodium, which is transmitted through a bite by the female Anopheles mosquito. Symptoms are very varied, starting as if it were the flu (fever, chills, headache, sweating) which reappear every 2 or 3 days, and they may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, muscle pain, cough, bloody stool, yellowing of the skin, bleeding, signs of shock (poor blood perfusion and poor oxygen supply in tissues), coma etc. Diagnosis requires the collection of medical history, a full physical examination and demonstrating the presence of the parasite in biological samples. The basis for treatment is medication such as antimalarial drugs.
Bibliographic references
  1. Joel G Breman. Clinical manifestations of malaria in nonpregnant adults and children. UpToDate. May 19, 2016.
  2. Heidi Hopkins. Diagnosis of malaria. UpToDate. Apr 25, 2016.
  3. Johanna Daily. Treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in nonpregnant adults and children. UpToDate. Jun 23, 2016.
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Malaria Information and Prophylaxis, by Country [A]. http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/country_table/a.html (Accessed on March 21, 2016).
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment Guidelines: Treatment of Malaria (Guidelines for Clinicians), 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/resources/pdf/clinicalguidance.pdf (Accessed on September 10, 2015).
  6. White NJ, Breman JG. Paludismo y babesiosis: enfermedades producidas por parásitos eritrocitarios. Harrison. Manual de Medicina. 16º edición. 606-618.
Author
Dr. Elvira Moreno
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    Shivers

    Fever with shivering and/or chattering teeth

    Excessive sweating

    Feeling generally unwell

    Yellow tinge to skin and mucous membranes

Symptoms to watch out for

Pain that does not subside with analgesics.
Change of skin coloration to yellow
Difficulty breathing
Vomiting that persists for more than 3 days.
Signs of dehydration: more tiredness than usual, dizziness, dry mouth and tongue.

Self-care

Take over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatories.
Relative rest, rest until symptoms subside.
Eat a balanced diet: increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, and white meats, and reduce consumption of fatty and fried foods.
Maintain a fluid intake of 6 - 8 cups per day.
Use antiemetics if vomiting occurs.
Talk to your doctor about the prescription of anti-malarials.
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