What should you know about sequestration malaria?

Some malaria parasites cause infected red blood cells to attach to vessel walls instead of circulating normally. This can obstruct tiny vessels in organs such as the brain, lungs, kidneys or placenta. The illness may include fever, chills, headache, weakness, muscle aches, vomiting or confusion.

Sequestration is a complication of malaria, not a conclusion that can be made from fever alone. The symptoms of malaria can change quickly, especially after travel or residence in an area where malaria occurs.

Suspected malaria needs urgent medical assessment. Tell the clinician about recent travel, possible mosquito exposure, previous malaria, pregnancy, medicines and when symptoms began. A blood test can look for parasites and assess effects on blood cells and organs; repeat testing may be needed if suspicion remains.

Treatment depends on the parasite, severity and local resistance patterns. Severe disease is treated in hospital with antimalarial medicine and monitoring for problems such as low blood sugar, anaemia, kidney injury or breathing difficulty. Do not self-treat with leftover tablets or delay care while waiting for symptoms to settle.

Go to emergency care immediately for confusion, seizures, extreme drowsiness, fainting, difficulty breathing, repeated vomiting, yellowing of the skin, very little urine, or inability to drink. Fever with chills after travel to a malaria area also warrants prompt assessment, even if the fever temporarily improves.

Ask which malaria test is being used, whether repeat testing is needed, how treatment will be monitored, and whether you need follow-up after returning from a malaria-risk area.