What should you know about quartan malaria?

Malaria is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Plasmodium malariae can produce a cyclical illness in which fever, chills, sweating, headache, tiredness, and muscle aches recur. The timing may not be neat, particularly early in illness or after partial treatment, so a missed fever day does not rule it out.

Symptoms can begin after leaving a malaria area, and the illness can become serious without appropriate treatment. Fever after travel to a malaria region should therefore be treated as a medical concern, even when the person feels better between episodes.

Seek same-day medical advice for fever or chills after travel in a malaria area. Tell the clinician where you travelled, when you returned, mosquito exposure, preventive medicines, and every medicine already taken. A blood test can look for malaria parasites; repeat testing may be considered when the first result does not explain ongoing symptoms.

Do not share antimalarial medicine or delay care while waiting for the next fever episode. Rest, drink fluids if able, and follow the prescribed course exactly if malaria is diagnosed. A travel health consultation before future trips can help match prevention to the destination and your health.

Go to emergency care for confusion, fainting, seizures, breathing difficulty, severe weakness, repeated vomiting, inability to drink, yellowing of the skin, or rapidly worsening fever. Pregnancy, childhood, and a weakened immune system increase the need for urgent clinical guidance.

Ask which tests are needed, whether testing should be repeated, which treatment is appropriate for the identified parasite, and how to prevent malaria on your next trip.