What are the symptoms of malaria?
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Oftentimes, some with malaria will have flu-like symptoms. A person with malaria may have chills, a high fever, and fatigue. They may also have headaches, or feel nauseated and generally uncomfortable. If the infection is allowed to progress, a person may develop anemia, jaundice, and low blood sugar. With a particularly virulent strain of malaria, a person can develop what is called cerebral malaria. At its most severe, this infection can induce delirium or seizures and may lead to a coma.
Oftentimes, some with malaria will have flu-like symptoms. A person with malaria may have chills, a high fever, and fatigue. They may also have headaches, or feel nauseated and generally uncomfortable. If the infection is allowed to progress, a... More -
Discovery Health answered:Malaria symptoms can be mild or deadly. They typically include chills, fever, muscle pains, headaches and sweating.
Malaria symptoms can be mild or deadly. They typically include chills, fever, muscle pains, headaches and sweating. More -
Malaria can occur while antimalarial drugs are being taken due to drug resistance.
Symptoms of malaria usually appear about 10-14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms include: sudden, violent chills; intermittent fever; sweating; exhaustion and fatigue; headaches; seizures; and delirium.
Plasmodium falciparum infections normally take 7-14 days to show symptoms while Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale normally take 8-14 days (but in some cases can survive for some months in the human host). Plasmodium malariae infections take 7-30 days.
Fever in the first week of travel in a malaria-risk area is unlikely to be malaria; however, any traveler feeling ill should seek immediate medical care.
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Malaria can occur while antimalarial drugs are being taken due to drug resistance. Symptoms of malaria usually appear about 10-14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms include: sudden, violent chills; intermittent fever;... More -
Healthwise answered:When symptoms appear
The time from the initial malaria infection until symptoms appear (incubation period) generally ranges from:
- 9 to 14 days for Plasmodium (P.) falciparum.
- 12 to 18 days for P. vivax and P. ovale.
- 18 to 40 days for P. malariae.
- 11 to 12 days for P. knowlesi.
Symptoms can appear in 7 days. Sometimes, the time between exposure and signs of illness may be as long as 8 to 10 months with P. vivax and P. ovale.
The incubation period may be longer if you are taking medicine to prevent infection (chemoprophylaxis) or because you have some immunity due to previous infections.
Variation in symptoms
In regions where malaria is present, people who get infected many times may have the disease but have few or no symptoms. Also, how bad malaria symptoms are can vary depending on your general health, what kind of malaria parasite you have and whether you still have your spleen.
Common symptoms of malaria
In the early stages, malaria symptoms are sometimes similar to those of many other infections caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. Symptoms may include:
- Fever.
- Chills.
- Headache.
- Sweats.
- Fatigue.
- Nausea and vomiting.
Symptoms may appear in cycles and may come and go at different intensities and for different lengths of time. But, especially at the beginning of the illness, the symptoms may not follow this typical pattern.
The cyclic pattern of malaria symptoms is due to the life cycle of malaria parasites as they develop, reproduce and are released from the red blood cells and liver cells in the human body. This cycle of symptoms is also one of the major indicators that you are infected with malaria.
Other common symptoms of malaria
Other common symptoms of malaria include:
- Dry (nonproductive) cough.
- Muscle and/or back pain.
- Enlarged spleen.
In rare cases, malaria can lead to impaired function of the brain or spinal cord, seizures or loss of consciousness.
Infection with the P. falciparum parasite is usually more serious and may become life-threatening.
There are other conditions with symptoms similar to a malarial infection. It is important that you see your doctor to find out the cause of your symptoms.
When symptoms appear The time from the initial malaria infection until symptoms appear (incubation period) generally ranges from: 9 to 14 days for Plasmodium (P.) falciparum. 12 to 18 days for P. vivax and P. ovale. 18 to 40 days for P.... More
