Malaria is an infection caused by a parasite and spread by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito, which bites mainly at night. It causes fever with shivering chills.
Go to hospital immediately if you notice
- Confusion, unusual drowsiness or difficulty waking the person
- Fits or seizures
- Difficulty breathing, or breathing very fast
- Passing very little urine, or urine the colour of tea or cola
- Yellow eyes or skin
- Bleeding from the nose or gums
- Being unable to sit or stand from weakness
Overview
Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium. It spreads when an infected female Anopheles mosquito bites you. Unlike the dengue mosquito, this one bites mainly at night, between dusk and dawn.
The parasite grows in the liver and then infects red blood cells. When those cells burst, the fever and shivering happen — which is why malarial fever often comes in waves rather than staying constant.
Two types cause most cases in India. Plasmodium vivax is more common and relapses months later if not fully treated. Plasmodium falciparum is less common but causes most of the severe illness and deaths.
Testing and treatment are free at government health facilities. Malaria is curable, and treated early it usually resolves completely.
Symptoms of Malaria
- Fever, often with shaking chills and then heavy sweating
- In some people the fever comes in cycles every second or third day
- Headache and body ache
- Feeling sick or vomiting
- Extreme tiredness and weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Pale skin and, in longer illness, mild jaundice
What causes it
- Infection with Plasmodium parasites, most often P. vivax or P. falciparum in India
- Spread by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito, which bites mainly between dusk and dawn
- These mosquitoes breed in slow-moving or standing water such as ponds, ditches and paddy fields
- It does not spread from person to person by touch, coughing or sharing food
Who is at higher risk
- Living in or travelling to an area where malaria is common
- The monsoon and the months just after it
- Sleeping without a mosquito net or repellent
- Pregnancy, which increases the risk of severe malaria
- Young children and people with weakened immunity
Tests and diagnosis
These are the tests doctors commonly use. Which ones you need depends on your symptoms.
- Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) — a finger-prick test giving a result in about 20 minutes
- Blood smear microscopy — a drop of blood examined under a microscope, which also identifies the species and how heavy the infection is
- Complete blood count, which often shows low platelets and anaemia
- Both the rapid test and microscopy are available free at government facilities
Treatment
- Antimalarial medicines, chosen according to which species you have and how severe the illness is. This is why identifying the species matters.
- Treatment is free at government health facilities under the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control.
- P. vivax needs an additional course of medicine to clear parasites resting in the liver, otherwise it comes back weeks or months later. This part is frequently skipped and is the commonest reason malaria returns.
- Severe malaria is a medical emergency treated in hospital with injectable medicines.
- Complete the entire course exactly as prescribed, even after the fever settles.
Prevention
- Sleep under a mosquito net, ideally an insecticide-treated one — this mosquito bites at night
- Use repellent and wear covering clothes in the evening and at night
- Fit mesh screens on windows and doors
- Drain or cover standing water around the house
- Support local spraying programmes
- If you are travelling to a high-risk area, ask a doctor about preventive medicine before you go
When should you see a doctor?
Get a blood test the same day for any fever with chills, particularly during or after the monsoon or after travelling to a malaria area. Go to hospital immediately if there is confusion, drowsiness, a fit, difficulty breathing, very little urine, or yellow eyes — these mean severe malaria.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is malaria fever different from dengue fever?
Malaria fever typically comes with shaking chills followed by sweating, and often in waves. Dengue usually brings continuous high fever with severe pain behind the eyes and in the muscles and joints. They can look similar, so a blood test is the only reliable way to tell them apart.
Why did my malaria come back after treatment?
With Plasmodium vivax, parasites can remain resting in the liver after the blood infection clears. Unless the additional medicine that clears the liver stage is taken, the infection returns weeks or months later. Completing that full course is what prevents relapse.
Is malaria treatment really free in India?
Yes. Testing and medicines are provided free at government health facilities under the national programme.
Can malaria spread from one person to another?
Not through ordinary contact. It spreads through mosquito bites, and rarely through blood transfusion or from mother to baby during pregnancy.
Questions to ask your doctor about Malaria
Pick the three that matter most to you and write them down before your appointment. Consultations are short, and almost everyone forgets at least one.
- Which type of malaria is it?
- Do I need the extra course that prevents it coming back?
- How long until I should start feeling better?
- What signs would mean severe malaria?
- Is my treatment available free here?
What this costs, and what is free
Free under the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC).
Government hospitals, primary health centres and accredited social health activists (ASHA workers) — rapid diagnostic tests, blood smear microscopy and antimalarial medicines.
A private malaria test is inexpensive but not free. If cost is a barrier, do not delay — the government test is free and available the same day.
Source: National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC)
Prices and scheme rules change. Confirm current details with the hospital or Kendra before you rely on them.