Health encyclopaedia

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Symptoms of Malaria

Symptoms of malaria usually begin about 10 days after infection but, depending on type, can take up to three months to appear.

Characteristic symptoms of benign malaria include a flu-like fever and chills with a high temperature (up to 40°c). A general feeling of illness, muscular aches, headaches, diarrhoea, and nausea and vomiting often accompanies this.  These symptoms can last for weeks if no medication is taken, but usually disappear within a few days with proper treatment.

Malignant malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium Falciparum.  Malignant malaria can result in more severe symptoms including:

• low blood pressure
• severe anaemia (iron deficiency)
• pulmonary oedema
• kidney failure
• internal bleeding (haemorrhaging)
• jaundice
• state of shock
• coma
• convulsions
• paralysis.

Malignant malaria can also affect the brain and central nervous system and can be fatal.

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