Living with Malaria
An infection spread by mosquitoes that causes high fever, shaking chills, and flu-like illness.
Understanding Malaria
Symptoms range from none or very mild to severe disease. People who get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, and a flu-like illness. It can start at any time in life.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches (myalgia)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Low red blood cells (anemia)
- Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist who knows rare conditions.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- A doctor familiar with rare conditions, plus specialists as needed
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Malaria Consortium and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
Malaria is caused by a parasite that infects a type of mosquito that feeds on humans. GARD lists no gene or inheritance pattern.
Also known as: disease caused by plasmodiidae; malarial fever; paludism; plasmodiosis
Patient organizations
- Malaria ConsortiumMalaria · United States
- Malaria No MoreMalaria · United States
- United to Beat MalariaMalaria · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Malaria.
Explore research for Malaria
Explore actively recruiting Malaria studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Malaria with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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