Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium. The disease is typically characterized by fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms that can appear within a few days to a few weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

The symptoms of malaria can vary depending on the species of Plasmodium causing the infection, as well as other factors such as the patient's age and overall health. In addition to fever and chills, common symptoms of malaria can include headache, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Malaria is a serious disease that can lead to complications such as anemia, organ damage, and even death if not treated promptly and properly. Treatment for malaria typically involves a combination of antimalarial medications, which work to kill the parasite and clear the infection from the body.

Prevention of malaria involves taking measures to avoid mosquito bites, such as using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and sleeping under mosquito nets. In areas where malaria is common, antimalarial medications may also be used to prevent infection in people at high risk of the disease.

Malaria is a major public health problem in many parts of the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Efforts to control the disease have included the use of insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying, and the development of new antimalarial drugs and vaccines.

Malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus plasmodium. The parasite is transmitted to humans most commonly through mosquito bites.

Mosquito transmission cycle

• Uninfected mosquito. A mosquito becomes infected by feeding on a person who has malaria.
• Transmission of parasite. If this mosquito bites you in the future, it can transmit malaria parasites to you.
• In the liver. Once the parasites enter your body, they travel to your liver — where some types can lie dormant for as long as a year.
• Into the bloodstream. When the parasites mature, they leave the liver and infect your red blood cells. This is when people typically develop malaria symptoms.
• On to the next person. If an uninfected mosquito bites you at this point in the cycle, it will become infected with your malaria parasites and can spread them to the other people it bites.

Other modes of transmission

Because the parasites that cause malaria affect red blood cells, people can also catch malaria from exposure to infected blood, including:

• From mother to unborn child
• Through blood transfusions
• By sharing needles used to inject drugs

If you live in or are traveling to an area where malaria is common, take steps to avoid mosquito bites. Mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn. To protect yourself from mosquito bites, you should:

• Cover your skin. Wear pants and long-sleeved shirts. Tuck in your shirt, and tuck pant legs into socks.
• Apply insect repellent to skin. Use an insect repellent registered with the Environmental Protection Agency on any exposed skin. These include repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone. Do not use a spray directly on your face. Do not use products with OLE or PMD on children under age 3.
• Apply repellent to clothing. Sprays containing permethrin are safe to apply to clothing.
• Sleep under a net. Bed nets, particularly those treated with insecticides, such as permethrin, help prevent mosquito bites while you are sleeping.

Preventive medicine

If you'll be traveling to a location where malaria is common, talk to your doctor a few months ahead of time about whether you should take drugs before, during and after your trip to help protect you from malaria parasites.

In general, the drugs taken to prevent malaria are the same drugs used to treat the disease. What drug you take depends on where and how long you are traveling and your own health.

Vaccine

The World Health Organization has recommended a malaria vaccine for use in children who live in countries with high numbers of malaria cases.

Researchers are continuing to develop and study malaria vaccines to prevent infection.

Malaria is treated with prescription drugs to kill the parasite. The types of drugs and the length of treatment will vary, depending on:

• Which type of malaria parasite you have
• The severity of your symptoms
• Your age
• Whether you're pregnant

Medications

The most common antimalarial drugs include:

• Chloroquine phosphate. Chloroquine is the preferred treatment for any parasite that is sensitive to the drug. But in many parts of the world, parasites are resistant to chloroquine, and the drug is no longer an effective treatment.
• Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). ACT is a combination of two or more drugs that work against the malaria parasite in different ways. This is usually the preferred treatment for chloroquine-resistant malaria. Examples include artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem) and artesunate-mefloquine.

Other common antimalarial drugs include:

• Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone)
• Quinine sulfate (Qualaquin) with doxycycline (Oracea, Vibramycin, others)
• Primaquine phosphate