What are the symptoms of malaria?

Symptoms may begin after a delay following a stay in a malaria-risk area, and they can come and go in episodes. Fever may be accompanied by shaking chills followed by sweating. Some people develop weakness, confusion, breathing difficulty or yellowing of the skin or eyes. The pattern is not enough to confirm malaria because other infections can look similar.

Seek medical assessment promptly if fever develops during or after travel to a malaria-risk area, even if you used prevention. Tell the clinician where you travelled, when you returned, and whether you took preventive medicine. A blood test can look for the parasite and may need repeating when suspicion remains. Rest, drink fluids if you can, and do not delay assessment while trying to treat the illness at home.

Get emergency help for confusion, a seizure, fainting, severe breathing trouble, inability to keep fluids down, extreme weakness, or rapidly worsening fever. Malaria can become severe quickly, so a recent journey matters even when symptoms seem like a flu-like illness.

Ask whether your travel history calls for malaria testing, which blood tests are needed, and which warning signs should prompt emergency care. You can also discuss future travel protection, including a travel health consultation and malaria prophylaxis.