Skip to content

Malaria

Malaria is infection with Plasmodium parasites transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, causing fever and potentially severe organ disease.

Aralen

Chloroquine

250 · 500mg

Chloroquine 250mg and 500mg tablets, used for malaria. An aminoquinoline that interferes with parasite growth inside the red blood cells.

From$0.56/ tabletView

Key points

  • Fever during or after travel in a malaria-risk area needs prompt testing even when prophylaxis was taken.
  • Thick and thin blood films or rapid tests identify infection; repeat testing may be needed when initial results are negative but suspicion remains.
  • Species, severity, exposure location, pregnancy and resistance determine treatment, so chloroquine is not a universal option.

The listings below do not confirm malaria or define a regimen; suspected disease requires urgent clinical and laboratory assessment.

Recognising severe disease

Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, aches and fatigue, but may be non-specific. Confusion, jaundice, breathing difficulty, shock, severe anaemia, low glucose or kidney injury indicate severe malaria. P. vivax and P. ovale can relapse from dormant liver stages.

Treatment principles

Uncomplicated falciparum malaria commonly requires an artemisinin-based combination selected for local resistance. Severe malaria needs intravenous artesunate and hospital monitoring. Primaquine or tafenoquine for dormant liver stages requires G6PD testing because of haemolysis risk.

When to seek urgent care

Seek emergency care for fever after malaria exposure with confusion, seizure, severe weakness, jaundice, breathing difficulty, fainting, repeated vomiting or very low urine output.

Further reading