Malaria illness

Malaria is the most common life threatening infection acquired by travelers to malaria endemic region. It is one of the oldest known diseases, with the first recorded case appearing in 1700 BC, in China.

Malaria is caused by parasites in the blood called ‘plasmodia’. They are transmitted through the bite of anopheline mosquito. Four species of plasmodia can cause malaria, but the most dangerous one is Plasmodium falciparum.

Today, cases of malaria are reported in 107 countries throughout the world. There are about 1500 cases of malaria each year in the United States. Nearly all the victims are travelers who contracted the disease in Africa or Asia, and brought it home.

The clinical manifestations of malaria depend on the species of malaria parasite causing the infection, the immune status of the individual, the mode of transmission of infection, whether the individual was taking prophylaxis and host immune factors.

Fever is the main symptom of malaria. It can be present all the time or go away and return at regular intervals. Other signs of falciparum malaria are shivering sweating and vomiting.
Malaria illness