Malaria is a common and serious tropical disease transmitted via mosquitoes. It is a parasitic infection that spreads when an infected mosquito bites a person and passes the parasite into their bloodstream. A single mosquito bite is enough to transmit the infection.
Malaria remains one of the world’s most significant public health challenges. According to the WHO’s World Malaria Report, there were an estimated 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths globally in 2024. That works out to over 770,000 new infections every single day.
The infection usually starts with symptoms such as fever, chills, headache and body aches, which can easily be mistaken for a common viral fever.
If not treated timely, malaria can be a life-threatening condition.
Malaria symptoms can occur between 7 to 30 days after being infected. The signs and symptoms of malaria affect every individual in a different manner and can vary from mild to severe.
Common malaria symptoms include:
Untreated and undiagnosed malaria can also cause health conditions such as jaundice and anemia.
Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite, of which five species are known to infect humans:
The fever caused by malaria does not always stay constant and may follow a distinctive 48-hour cycle. In some cases, it comes in phases: you may first feel cold and start shivering, followed by a high fever and then sweating as the fever comes down. This pattern can be useful information for your doctor, so mention it if you notice it.
Primarily, malaria causes include the transmission of a single celled parasite of the genus plasmodium. Commonly, female Anopheles mosquitoes carry this parasite. It can be transmitted in varying manners in your body.
The Anopheles mosquitoes that spread malaria are most active from dusk to dawn, so protection is especially important during evening and night-time hours.
Malaria is transmitted through the following cycles:
From an infected mosquito – A mosquito that is carrying the parasite causing malaria can bite you and spread the infection.
In your liver – The parasite that causes malaria can remain in your liver for upto 1 year without causing any symptoms. You may develop malaria symptoms several months later after having the said parasite in your body.
In your bloodstream – The transmission of parasites causing malaria can happen from your bloodstream as well. When the parasites mature, they leave your liver and enter your bloodstream, from where on, they can cause malaria symptoms.
From an uninfected mosquito – Since it is possible to be infected with malaria without displaying symptoms, an uninfected mosquito can bite you and get infected, hence, transmitting malaria to others. An uninfected mosquito can bite you at any time of the cycle and cause transmission of the disease.
Malaria can also be transmitted from mother to fetus or through blood transfusions.
If malaria is suspected, your doctor will confirm it with a blood test. The two main methods used to diagnose this infection are:
This diagnostic test is considered the gold standard. It is a blood sample examined under a microscope to detect and identify the parasite species.
It detects malaria antigens in the blood and gives results within minutes. This test is useful when microscopy is not immediately available.
If the first test is negative but symptoms continue, your doctor may repeat testing, since parasite levels can be too low to detect early in the infection.
Malaria causes can affect any individual irrespective of their age and gender. However, the effects of malaria are more likely to be active on some groups than others.
Common risk factors of malaria include:
Malaria is a serious infection that requires timely and quick medical intervention. If not treated properly, malaria symptoms can cause a range of health complications including:
Malaria is usually diagnosed when a person presents with troubling symptoms. It can be detected via blood tests. Your Malaria Doctor will offer prompt treatment based on factors such as your age, overall health and severity of symptoms, causes and type of malaria.
For uncomplicated malaria, malaria treatment is done via antimalarial medication. Based on your condition, you may receive this medication through tablets or through IV drip. Some types of malaria can remain dormant in the liver, so treatment may also need to address these hidden forms to prevent the infection from coming back.
Your treatment protocol may vary if you are expecting a baby or travelling. Sometimes, malaria is treated as an emergency where care measures include management of symptoms.
Do not start or stop malaria treatment on your own, even if the fever improves. Completing the treatment advised by your doctor helps clear the infection and reduces the risk of complications or recurrence.
Malaria prevention is possible in both cases where you are travelling to or living in a tropical country. Here is what you can do to prevent malaria:
You should see an internal medicine doctor timely if you are suffering with fever, chills or flu-like symptoms after travelling to or living in a malaria-prone area, especially within the past year, since some parasites can remain inactive for months. Seek emergency care immediately for if you face confusion, difficulty breathing, repeated vomiting, seizures, or a very high fever, as these can signal severe malaria requiring hospitalisation.
Malaria is a common and serious tropical disease transmitted via mosquitoes. It is a parasitic infection that spreads when a mosquito carrying the said infectious parasite bites a person. A single mosquito bite is enough to transmit the infection.
If not treated timely, malaria can be a life-threatening condition.
Malaria symptoms can occur between 7-30 days after being infected. The signs and symptoms of malaria affect every individual in a different manner and can vary from mild to severe.
Common malaria symptoms include:
Untreated and undiagnosed malaria can also cause health conditions such as jaundice and anemia.
Primarily, malaria causes include the transmission of a single celled parasite of the genus plasmodium. Commonly, female Anopheles mosquitoes carry this parasite. It can be transmitted in varying manners in your body.
Malaria is transmitted through the following cycles:
From an infected mosquito – A mosquito that is carrying the parasite causing malaria can bite you and spread the infection.
In your liver – The parasite that causes malaria can remain in your liver for upto 1 year without causing any symptoms. You may develop malaria symptoms several months later after having the said parasite in your body.
In your bloodstream – The transmission of parasites causing malaria can happen from your bloodstream as well. When the parasites mature, they leave your liver and enter your bloodstream, from where on, they can cause malaria symptoms.
From an uninfected mosquito – Since it is possible to be infected with malaria without displaying symptoms, an uninfected mosquito can bite you and get infected, hence, transmitting malaria to others. An uninfected mosquito can bite you at any time of the cycle and cause transmission of the disease.
Malaria can also be transmitted from mother to fetus or through blood transfusions.
Malaria causes can affect any individual irrespective of their age and gender. However, the effects of malaria are more likely to be active on some groups than others.
Common risk factors of malaria include:
Malaria is a serious infection that requires timely and quick medical intervention. If not treated properly, malaria symptoms can cause a range of health complications including:
Malaria is usually diagnosed when a person presents with troubling symptoms. It can be detected via blood tests. Your Malaria Doctor will offer prompt treatment based on factors such as your age, overall health and severity of symptoms, causes and type of malaria.
Malaria treatment is done via antimalarial medication. Based on your condition, you may receive this medication through tablets or through IV drip.
Your treatment protocol may vary if you are expecting a baby or travelling. Sometimes, malaria is treated as an emergency where care measures include management of symptoms.
Malaria prevention is possible in both cases where you are travelling to or living in a tropical country. Here is what you can do to prevent malaria:
Malaria is diagnosed through a blood test, either microscopic examination (the gold standard) or a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) that gives results within minutes.
Malaria is treated with antimalarial medicines. The choice depends on the type of malaria, how severe the infection is and the person’s age, pregnancy status and overall health. Treatment should be taken only as advised by a doctor.
No. Malaria spreads only through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito, not from person to person through casual contact.
Malaria is caused by a Plasmodium parasite spread by Anopheles mosquitoes, which bite mainly at dusk and night. Whereas, dengue is caused by a virus spread by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite mainly during the day. Malaria fever usually comes in cycles. Dengue fever tends to stay high and constant.
Five Plasmodium species can infect humans: falciparum (most dangerous), vivax (most common in India), ovale, malariae and knowlesi.
You can consult an internal medicine specialist for initial diagnosis and treatment. For severe cases, you may need Critical Care/ICU support.
