Symptoms of Malaria
For Everyone
Mar. 12, 2024
KEY POINTS
Malaria symptoms range from very mild to severe disease and even
death.
Travelers with symptoms of malaria should see a healthcare provider
as soon as possible, even if still traveling.
Some people are at higher risk of having serious malaria-related
problems if they get sick.
Malaria is a curable disease if diagnosed and treated quickly and
correctly.
Symptoms
Most people begin to feel ill as early as one week after infection or as
late as a year or more.
Malaria symptoms can include
Fever and flu-like illness
Chills
Headache, muscle aches, and tiredness
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
See a healthcare provider if you have any these symptoms.
Complications
Malaria symptoms may become more severe.
Anemia (low red blood cells) and jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin
and eyes).
If not treated right away, the infection can become serious. It may
cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma, and death.
Incubation Period
The type of mosquito that carries the malaria parasite is
an Anopheles mosquito. When an infective Anopheles mosquito bites you
and passes on the malaria parasite, there is a period of time before the first
symptoms show. This time between mosquito bite and first sign of
symptoms is called the "incubation period."
The incubation period in most cases of malaria ranges from 7 – 30 days.
Different species of parasites that cause malaria in humans can cause
shorter or longer incubation periods.
In addition, some malaria parasite species can remain dormant (inactive) in
the liver for months or years after the initial infection. Later, after returning
from an area with malaria, these parasites can then leave the liver and
infect red blood cells and cause another episode of illness. Proper
diagnosis and treatment can prevent malaria illness caused by these
dormant parasites.
Keep reading: Malaria incubation period
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