Symptoms of Malaria

Symptoms of Malaria

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Malaria includes the 26 symptoms listed below:

• Mild early symptoms - in few days before major symptoms
• Cold stage:
  • Fever
  • Shaking
  • Chills
• Hot stage:
  • High fever
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Pain
  • Delirium
• Sweating stage:
  • Sweating
  • Fall in temperature
• Prostration
• Anemia - see symptoms of anemia such as:
  • Pallor
  • Tiredness
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
• Splenomegaly
• Hepatomegaly
• Chills
• Fever
• more information...»

Research symptoms & diagnosis of Malaria:

• Overview -- Malaria
• Diagnostic Tests for Malaria
• Home Diagnostic Testing
• Complications -- Malaria
• Doctors & Specialists
• Misdiagnosis and Alternative Diagnoses
• Hidden Causes of Malaria
• Other Causes -- causes of these or similar symptoms

Malaria: Complications

Review medical complications possibly associated with Malaria:

• Cerebral malaria
• Death
• Mother-infant transmission (see Birth symptoms) - pregnant mother can infect the fetus.
• Low birth weight
• Anemia
• more complications...»

Diagnostic Testing

Diagnostic testing of medical conditions related to Malaria:

• Travel history
• Blood smears
• Malaria antibody blood test
• more tests...»

Research More About Malaria

Do I have Malaria?

• Malaria: Introduction
• Malaria: Diagnostic Testing to confirm diagnosis
• Home Diagnostic Testing
• Alternative diagnoses and misdiagnosis for Malaria
• Failure to Diagnose Malaria
• Treatments for Malaria
• More about Malaria

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical tests related to Malaria:

• Cold & Flu: Home Testing:
  • Home Fever Tests
  • Home Ear Infection Test Kits
  • Home Flu Tests
  • Home Strep A Tests
• more home tests...»

Wrongly Diagnosed with Malaria?

The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Malaria includes:

• Flu
• Influenza
• Typhoid fever
• Viral hepatitis
• Dengue
• more diagnoses...»

See the full list of 23 alternative diagnoses for Malaria

More about symptoms of Malaria:

More information about symptoms of Malaria and related conditions:

• Other diseases with similar symptoms and common misdiagnoses
• Tests to determine if these are the symptoms of Malaria
• Symptoms that may be caused by complications of Malaria
• Underlying causes of Malaria
• Risk factors for Malaria

Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms

Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions, or drug side effect causes of that symptom.

• Anemia - see all causes of Anemia
• Chills - see all causes of Chills
• Chills - see all causes of Chills
• Delirium - see all causes of Delirium
• Dizziness - see all causes of Dizziness
• Fall in temperature - see all causes of Hypothermia
• Fatigue - see all causes of Fatigue
• Fever - see all causes of Fever
• Fever - see all causes of Fever
• Headache - see all causes of Headache
• Hepatomegaly - see all causes of Liver enlargement
• High fever - see all causes of High fever
• Mild early symptoms - see all causes of Vague symptoms
• Nausea - see all causes of Nausea
• Pain - see all causes of Pain
• Pallor - see all causes of Paleness
• Prostration - see all causes of Prostration
• Shaking - see all causes of Tremor symptoms
• Shortness of breath - see all causes of Shortness of breath
• Splenomegaly - see all causes of Swollen spleen
• Sweating - see all causes of Sweating
• Tiredness - see all causes of Tiredness
• Vomiting - see all causes of Vomiting

Medical Books Online about Malaria

Medical Books Excerpts Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Malaria are available from published medical books for more detailed information about Malaria.

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

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Symptoms of Malaria: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the symptoms of Malaria.

Malaria: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

After an incubation period of 12 to 30 days, malaria produces chills, fever, headache, and myalgia, interspersed with periods of well-being (the hallmark of the benign form of malaria). Acute attacks (paroxysms) occur when erythrocytes rupture. There are three stages:

❑cold stage, lasting 1 to 2 hours, ranging from chills to extreme shaking

❑hot stage, lasting 3 to 4 hours, characterized by a high fever (up to 107° F [41.7° C])

❑wet stage, lasting 2 to 4 hours and characterized by profuse sweating.

Paroxysms occur every 48 to 72 hours when malaria is caused by P. malariae and every 42 to 50 hours when malaria is caused by P. vivax or P. ovale. All three types have low levels of parasitosis and are self-limiting as a result of early acquired immunity.

P. vivax and P. ovale also produce hepatosplenomegaly. Hemolytic anemia is present in all but the mildest infections.

The most severe and only life-threatening form of malaria is caused by P. falciparum. This species produces persistent high fever, orthostatic hypotension, and red blood cell (RBC) sludging that leads to capillary obstruction at various sites. Signs and symptoms of obstruction include:

❑cerebral — hemiplegia, seizures, delirium, and coma

❑pulmonary — coughing and hemoptysis

❑splanchnic — vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and melena

❑renal — oliguria, anuria, and uremia.

During blackwater fever (a complication of P. falciparum infection), massive intra-vascular hemolysis causes jaundice, hemoglobinuria, a tender and enlarged spleen, acute renal failure, and uremia. This complication is fatal in about 20% of patients.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Colorado tick fever: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

After a 3- to 6-day incubation period, Colorado tick fever begins abruptly with chills; temperature of 104° F (40° C); severe aching of back, arms, and legs; lethargy; and headache with eye movement such as extraocular movement. Photophobia, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting may occur. Rare effects include petechial or maculopapular rashes and central nervous system involvement. Symptoms subside after several days but return within 2 to 3 days and continue for 3 more days before slowly disappearing. Complete recovery usually follows.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Lassa fever: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

After a 7- to 18-day incubation period, this disease produces a fever that persists for 2 to 3 weeks, exudative pharyngitis, oral ulcers, lymphadenopathy with swelling of the face and neck, purpura, conjunctivitis, and bradycardia. Severe infection may also cause hepatitis, myocarditis, pleural infection, encephalitis, and permanent unilateral or bilateral deafness.

Virus multiplication in reticuloendothelial cells causes capillary lesions that lead to erythrocyte and platelet loss; mild to moderate thrombocytopenia (with a tendency toward bleeding); and secondary bacterial infection. These capillary lesions may also cause focal hemorrhage in the stomach, small intestine, kidneys, lungs, and brain and, possibly, hemorrhagic shock and peripheral vascular collapse.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Relapsing fever: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The incubation period for relapsing fever is 5 to 15 days (the average is 7 days). Clinically, tick- and louse-borne diseases are similar. Both begin suddenly, with a temperature approaching 105° F (40.6° C), prostration, headache, severe myalgia, arthralgia, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, and eye or chest pains. Splenomegaly is common; hepatomegaly and lymphade-nopathy may occur. During febrile periods, the victim's pulse and respiratory rates rise, and a transient macular rash may develop over his torso.

The first attack usually lasts from 3 to 6 days; then the patient's temperature drops quickly and is accompanied by profuse sweating. A skin rash on the trunk lasting 1 to 2 days is common after the primary febrile episode. The rash may be petechiae, macular, or papular. About 5 to 10 days later, a second febrile, symptomatic period begins. In louse-borne infection, additional relapses are unusual; but, in tick-borne cases, a second or third relapse is common. As the afebrile intervals become longer, relapses become shorter and milder because of antibody accumulation. Relapses are possibly due to antigenic changes in the Borrelia organism.

Complications from relapsing fever include nephritis, bronchitis, pneumonia, endocarditis, seizures, cranial nerve lesions, paralysis, and coma. Death may occur from hyperpyrexia, massive bleeding, circulatory failure, splenic rupture, or a secondary infection.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

In 95% of patients, rheumatic fever characteristically follows a streptococcal infection that appeared a few days to 6 weeks earlier. A temperature of at least 100.4° F (38° C) occurs, and most patients complain of migratory joint pain or polyarthritis. Swelling, redness, and signs of effusion usually accompany such pain, which most commonly affects the knees, ankles, elbows, or hips. In 5% of patients (generally those with carditis), rheumatic fever causes skin lesions such as erythema marginatum, a nonpruritic, macular, transient rash that gives rise to red lesions with blanched centers. Rheumatic fever may also produce firm, movable, nontender, subcutaneous nodules about 3 mm to 2 cm in diameter, usually near tendons or bony prominences of joints (especially the elbows, knuckles, wrists, and knees) and less often on the scalp and backs of the hands. These nodules persist for a few days to several weeks and, like erythema marginatum, often accompany carditis.

Later, rheumatic fever may cause transient chorea, which develops up to 6 months after the original streptococcal infection. Mild chorea may produce hyperirritability, a deterioration in handwriting, or an inability to concentrate. Severe chorea (Sydenham’s chorea) causes purposeless, nonrepetitive, involuntary muscle spasms; poor muscle coordination; and weakness. Chorea always resolves without residual neurologic damage.

The most destructive effect of rheumatic fever is carditis, which develops in up to 50% of patients and may affect the endocardium, myocardium, pericardium, or the heart valves. Pericarditis causes a pericardial friction rub and, occasionally, pain and effusion. Myocarditis produces characteristic lesions called Aschoff bodies (in the acute stages) and cellular swelling and fragmentation of interstitial collagen, leading to formation of a progressively fibrotic nodule and interstitial scars. Endocarditis causes valve leaflet swelling, erosion along the lines of leaflet closure, and blood, platelet, and fibrin deposits, which form beadlike vegetations. Endocarditis affects the mitral valve most often in females; the aortic, most often in males. In both females and males, endocarditis affects the tricuspid valves occasionally and the pulmonic only rarely.

Severe rheumatic carditis may cause heart failure with dyspnea; right upper quadrant pain; tachycardia; tachypnea; a hacking, nonproductive cough; edema; and significant mitral and aortic murmurs. The most common of such murmurs include:

❑ a systolic murmur of mitral insufficiency (high-pitched, blowing, holosystolic, loudest at apex, possibly radiating to the anterior axillary line)

❑ a midsystolic murmur due to stiffening and swelling of the mitral leaflet

❑ occasionally, a diastolic murmur of aortic insufficiency (low-pitched, rumbling, almost inaudible). Valvular disease may eventually result in chronic valvular stenosis and insufficiency, including mitral stenosis and insufficiency, and aortic insufficiency. In children, mitral insufficiency remains the major sequela of rheumatic heart disease.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Rocky Mountain spotted fever: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The incubation period is usually about 7 days, but it can range from 2 to 14 days. Generally, the shorter the incubation time, the more severe the infection. Signs and symptoms, which usually begin abruptly, include a persistent temperature of 102° to 104° F (38.9° to 40° C); a generalized, excruciating headache; nausea and vomiting; and aching in the bones, muscles, joints, and back. In addition, the tongue is covered with a thick white coating that gradually turns brown as the fever persists and rises.

Initially, the skin may simply appear flushed. Between days 2 and 5, eruptions begin around the wrists, ankles, or forehead; within 2 days, they cover the entire body, including the scalp, palms, and soles. The rash consists of erythematous macules 1 to 5 mm in diameter that blanch on pressure; if untreated, the rash may become petechial and maculopapular. By the third week, the skin peels off and may become gangrenous over the elbows, fingers, and toes.

The pulse is strong initially, but it gradually becomes rapid (possibly reaching 150 beats/minute) and thready.

Alert A rapid pulse rate and hypotension (systolic pressure less than 90 mm Hg) herald imminent death from complete vascular collapse.

Other signs and symptoms include a bronchial cough, a rapid respiratory rate (as high as 60 breaths/minute), anorexia, constipation, abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, insomnia, restlessness and, in extreme cases, delirium. Urine output falls to half of the normal level or less, is dark in color, and contains albumin. Complications, although uncommon, include lobar pneumonia, otitis media, pa-rotitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and, possibly, renal failure. In rare cases, RMSF leads to death.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

In 95% of patients, rheumatic fever characteristically follows a streptococcal infection that appeared a few days to 6 weeks earlier. A temperature of at least 100.4° F (38° C) occurs.

Joint pain

Most patients complain of migratory joint pain or polyarthritis. Swelling, redness, and signs of effusion usually accompany such pain, which most commonly affects the knees, ankles, elbows, or hips.

Skin lesions and nodules

In 5% of patients (generally those with carditis), rheumatic fever causes skin lesions, such as erythema marginatum. This nonpruritic, macular, transient rash gives rise to red lesions with blanched centers.

Rheumatic fever may also produce firm, movable, nontender, subcutaneous nodules ⅛" to ¾" (0.5 to 2 cm) in diameter, usually near tendons or bony prominences of joints (especially the elbows, knuckles, wrists, and knees) and less commonly on the scalp and backs of the hands. These nodules persist for a few days to several weeks and, like erythema marginatum, often accompany carditis.

Chorea

Later, rheumatic fever may cause transient chorea, which develops up to 6 months after the original streptococcal infection.

Mild chorea may produce hyperirritability, a deterioration in handwriting, or an inability to concentrate. Severe chorea causes purposeless, nonrepetitive, involuntary muscle spasms; poor muscle coordination; and weakness. Chorea always resolves without residual neurologic damage.

Carditis

The most destructive effect of rheumatic fever is carditis, which develops in up to 50% of patients. It may affect the endocardium, myocardium, pericardium, or the heart valves.

Pericarditis causes a pericardial friction rub and, occasionally, pain and effusion. Myocarditis produces characteristic lesions called Aschoff bodies (in the acute stages) and cellular swelling and fragmentation of interstitial collagen, leading to formation of a progressively fibrotic nodule and interstitial scars.

Endocarditis causes valve leaflet swelling, erosion along the lines of leaflet closure, and blood, platelet, and fibrin deposits, which form beadlike vegetations. Endocarditis usually affects the mitral valve in females and the aortic valve in males. In both sexes, endocarditis affects the tricuspid valves occasionally and the pulmonic valve only rarely.

Severe rheumatic carditis may cause heart failure with dyspnea, right-upper-quadrant pain, tachycardia, tachypnea, significant mitral and aortic murmurs, and a hacking, nonproductive cough.

The most common murmurs include:

❑ a systolic murmur of mitral insufficiency (high-pitched, blowing, holo-systolic, loudest at apex, possibly radiating to the anterior axillary line)

❑ a midsystolic murmur caused by stiffening and swelling of the mitral leaflet

❑ occasionally, a diastolic murmur of aortic insufficiency. Valvular disease may eventually result in chronic valvular stenosis and insufficiency, including mitral stenosis and insufficiency and aortic insufficiency. In children, mitral insufficiency remains the major after-effect of rheumatic heart disease.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003

Malaria: Malaria - signs & symptoms
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)

• Upon return from a malaria endemic zone, high fevers, headache, chills, sweating, and rigors are common presenting findings.
  • Periodicity of fever is dependent on the plasmodium species and is less commonly seen in young children and travelers.
• Cough, irritability, anorexia, vomiting, abdominal pain, back pain, and arthralgias may be present.
• Dark urine
• Cerebral malaria will manifest with signs of increased intracranial pressure, encephalopathy, and seizures.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008

Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Malaria:

Preventing Malaria in Infants and Children: DPD (Excerpt)

Malaria causes a flu-like illness; symptoms include fever, shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Malaria symptoms will occur at least seven to nine days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Fever in the first week of travel in a malaria-risk area is unlikely to be malaria; however, ill travelers should still seek immediate medical care. Although malaria is unlikely to be the cause, any fever should be promptly evaluated. If you or your child becomes ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area and up to 1 year after returning home, seek immediate medical care. Tell your health care provider where you have been traveling. (Source: excerpt from Preventing Malaria in Infants and Children: DPD)

Malaria, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID (Excerpt)

The disease begins with chills and, likely, a headache, nausea and vomiting. A fever develops and as it falls, a person is drenched in sweat. The symptoms can occur 10 to 16 days after infection and may appear in regular intervals of every two or three days. Depending on the species of parasite, an infected person may feel well between bouts and recover, or may never feel fine and can die from the disease. (Source: excerpt from Malaria, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

Facts About Transfusion-Transmitted Malaria: CDC-OC (Excerpt)

Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and malaise. Early stages of malaria may resemble the onset of the flu. Travelers who become ill with a fever during or after travel in a malarious area should seek prompt medical attention and should inform their physician of their recent travel history. (Source: excerpt from Facts About Transfusion-Transmitted Malaria: CDC-OC)

Malaria as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions

When considering symptoms of Malaria, it is also important to consider Malaria as a possible cause of other medical conditions. The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Malaria may cause:

• Acute confusional state
• Aseptic meningitis
• Fits
• Haematuria
• Leuconychia
• Pyrexia of unknown origin
• Red cell abnormality on blood film
• Reduced level of consciousness
• Uveitis
• VDRL positive

Malaria: Onset and Incubation

Incubation period for Malaria: 10-16 days; 1-4 weeks depending on type; longer for people unsuccessfully taking antimalarials.

Incubation period for Malaria: Malaria symptoms can develop as soon as 6-8 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, or as late as several months after departure from a malarious area (after antimalarial drugs are discontinued). (Source: excerpt from Facts About Transfusion-Transmitted Malaria: CDC-OC)

Medical articles and books on symptoms:

These general reference articles may be of interest in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:

• Diagnostic Testing for a Diagnosis of Malaria
• Research Alternative Diagnoses for Malaria
• More about Malaria
• Online Diagnosis
• Self Diagnosis Pitfalls
• Pitfalls of Online Diagnosis
• Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
• Lesser known silent killer diseases
• Books on signs and symptoms

Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

About signs and symptoms of Malaria:

The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Malaria. This signs and symptoms information for Malaria has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Malaria signs or Malaria symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Malaria may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Malaria symptoms.