Malaria: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. It is not endemic in Jordan but is very important for travelers to endemic areas in Africa, Asia, and South America, and for those arriving from them.

After the bite, the parasites enter the liver then invade red blood cells, multiply inside them, and destroy them, which explains the periodic fever attacks characteristic of the disease. Symptoms usually appear a week or more after the bite as fever and severe chills followed by profuse sweating, with headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and nausea, and may initially resemble influenza so are sometimes overlooked.

The danger of malaria lies in the fact that some of its types — especially Plasmodium falciparum — may progress rapidly to severe, life-threatening malaria with organ failure, severe anemia, and cerebral complications. Therefore, any fever in a person who has recently returned from an endemic area is considered malaria until proven otherwise and warrants urgent testing and treatment. Early treatment with antimalarial drugs is very effective, and prevention is possible by avoiding mosquito bites and with preventive medicines taken before, during, and after travel to endemic areas.

• Attacks of fever and chills followed by profuse sweating.
• Headache, muscle aches, and severe fatigue.
• Nausea, vomiting, and sometimes diarrhea.
• In severe cases: jaundice, confusion, and severe anemia.

• Infection with Plasmodium parasites.
• Transmission through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
• Rarely through contaminated blood transfusion or from mother to fetus.

• Microscopic blood-smear examination to see the parasite.
• Rapid diagnostic antigen tests.
• Confirming the species to determine appropriate treatment.

Antimalarial drugs

• Treatment by prescription chosen by the parasite species, disease severity, and infection region, and must be started early.

Severe cases

• Intravenous treatment and hospital support for severe malaria.

This content is educational and does not replace medical advice; medications are prescribed and monitored under medical supervision.

• Cerebral malaria and organ failure.
• Severe anemia.
• High risks for pregnant women and children.

• Avoiding mosquito bites (nets, repellent, protective clothing).
• Preventive medicines for travelers before, during, and after travel.
• Medical consultation before traveling to endemic areas.