Malaria is a serious tropical disease spread by mosquitoes.

If it isn't diagnosed
and treated promptly, it can be fatal.

A single mosquito bite is all it takes for someone to become infected.

Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite. The parasite can be spread to

humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

There are many different types of plasmodium parasite, but only 5 types cause malaria
in humans.

Symptoms of malaria can develop as quickly as 7 days after you're bitten by an

infected mosquito.

Typically, the time between being infected and when symptoms start (incubation period)

is 7 to 18 days, depending on the specific parasite you're infected with. However, in
some cases it can take up to a year for symptoms to develop.

The initial symptoms of malaria are flu-like and include:

 a high temperature of 38C or above

 feeling hot and shivery
 headaches
 vomiting
 muscle pains
 diarrhoea
 generally feeling unwell
These symptoms are often mild and can sometimes be difficult to identify as malaria.

With some types of malaria, the symptoms occur in 48-hour cycles. During these cycles,
you feel cold at first with shivering. You then develop a high temperature, accompanied
by severe sweating and fatigue. These symptoms usually last between 6 and 12 hours.

The most serious type of malaria is caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite.

Without prompt treatment, this type could lead to you quickly developing severe and life-
threatening complications, such as breathing problems and organ failure.