What should you know about RBM malaria?

Malaria is an infection passed to people through bites from infected mosquitoes. Fever, chills, sweating, headache and muscle aches can occur, but symptoms may vary and can begin after you have left an area where malaria is present. Malaria can become serious because the infection affects red blood cells and may involve several organs. A fever after travel needs medical assessment even when you used mosquito repellent or took preventive medicine.

Tell a clinician where you travelled, when you returned, whether you had mosquito bites and which medicines you took. Arrange a blood test promptly if malaria is possible; one test may not settle the question when symptoms continue, so follow the clinician’s plan. Do not start leftover antibiotics or malaria tablets without advice. For future travel, a travel health consultation can match prevention to the destination, season and your medical history.

Seek urgent medical help for fever after travel if you become confused, unusually sleepy, short of breath, faint, unable to drink, or develop repeated vomiting, a seizure or yellowing of the eyes. Go promptly rather than waiting for symptoms to settle. A child, pregnant person or someone with reduced immunity should be assessed quickly after possible exposure.

Ask which malaria test is needed, whether repeat testing is appropriate, which symptoms should trigger emergency care, and whether your travel history changes treatment. You can also ask about malaria prophylaxis and how to use it correctly on a future trip.