Malaria is a life-threatening illness caused by parasites that you get through the bite of an infected mosquito. It’s most common in parts of the world that are hot and humid, like Africa and parts of Asia. Antimalarial medications can cure it. If you’re traveling to an area where malaria is common, talk to a healthcare provider about ways you can prevent being infected.
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Malaria is a serious disease that spreads when you’re bitten by a mosquito infected by Plasmodium parasites. When it bites, the mosquito injects malaria parasites into your bloodstream.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Malaria is common in tropical areas where it’s hot and humid. Most cases happen in Africa and South Asia. It’s rare in the U.S.
Without treatment, malaria can cause brain damage, organ failure and death. See a healthcare provider right away if you live in or have traveled to an area where malaria spreads and you have symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of malaria include:
Symptoms can be mild or severe. As malaria gets worse, it can cause anemia and jaundice (yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes).
Malaria symptoms usually appear a week to a month after you’re infected. Some people don’t feel sick for a year or longer after the mosquito bite.
Sometimes, even after treatment, malaria infections get better but come back (recur) again. You can start having symptoms again years after your initial infection.
Plasmodium parasites cause malaria. There are five types that can infect humans.
A mosquito gets infected when it bites someone who’s infected with the parasites. When that mosquito bites someone else, it transfers a parasite to the other person’s bloodstream. There, the parasites multiply.
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In rare cases, malaria can pass from a pregnant person to the fetus during pregnancy or birth.
It’s possible, but unlikely, for malaria to be passed through blood transfusions, organ donations and needles.
Your risk of getting malaria is higher if you live in or travel to areas where it spreads, like parts of Africa. You’re at higher risk of serious illness and death if you:
Malaria is most common in areas with warm temperatures and high humidity, including:
If left untreated, malaria can cause:
A healthcare provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms and travel history. It’s important to let them know what countries you’ve visited recently so they can clearly understand your risk.
Your provider will take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab to see if you have Plasmodium parasites. The blood test will tell your provider if you have malaria and will also identify the Plasmodium species. They’ll use this information to determine the right treatment.
Antimalarial medications can treat malaria and clear the infection from your body, but it’s important to start treatment as soon as possible. If malaria isn’t treated properly, it can cause serious health problems, including permanent organ damage and death. Your provider will prescribe medications to kill the type of Plasmodium parasite responsible for your infection. Some parasites are resistant to malaria drugs.
Antimalarial drugs include:
After treatment, it’s important to protect yourself from mosquitoes as much as possible. If you’ve had malaria before, you can get it again if an infected mosquito bites you.
If you’ve traveled to or live in a country where malaria is common and you have symptoms, see a healthcare provider immediately. Early diagnosis makes treatment more effective.
If you’re traveling to an area where malaria is common, talk to a healthcare provider about ways you can prevent being infected. People who are infected and travel to the U.S. can spread the disease if a mosquito bites them and then bites someone else.
Your provider might prescribe antimalarial medications for you to take before, during and after your stay. Medications can greatly reduce the chances of getting malaria. If you get sick with malaria while on an antimalarial drug, it won’t work to treat it. Your provider will prescribe a different medication in that case.
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You should also take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. To lower your chances of getting malaria, you should:
Two vaccines that help protect against malaria are available. Public health officials recommend vaccination against malaria for children who live in areas where infections are common.
Malaria is a serious illness, but you can take steps to prevent it. You can lower your risk of infection by protecting yourself from mosquito bites and taking preventive medications. If you’re traveling to an area where malaria is common, talk to a healthcare provider several weeks before you leave. This is especially important if you’re pregnant. And talk to a provider right away if you’ve traveled to an area where malaria is common and you have symptoms.
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Last reviewed on 01/03/2025.
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