What are the symptoms of malaria?
Malaria symptoms usually appear 10 to 15 days after an infective mosquito bite.
- Cyclical high fever with shaking chills and rigors
- Profuse drenching sweating and exhaustion as fever breaks
- Severe throbbing headache and generalised muscle aches
- Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite
- Yellowish tinge to eyes (jaundice) or dark urine in severe cases
- Abdominal pain, spleen enlargement, and marked fatigue
Warning signs: go to hospital at once
These indicate severe or complicated malaria requiring immediate hospital intervention.
- Severe drowsiness, confusion, delirium, or coma (cerebral malaria)
- Repeated generalized fits or convulsions
- Extreme shortness of breath or rapid breathing (pulmonary edema)
- Very dark brown or blackish urine (blackwater fever)
- Persistent vomiting unable to retain oral medicines
- Sudden collapse or cold clammy extremities with falling BP
Call 108 or go to the nearest emergency department.
The 3 phases of malaria
Chills and rigors
Violent shivering, chattering teeth, and feeling freezing cold despite rising body temperature.
High fever spikes
Burning fever reaching 104°F or higher, severe head pain, flushed dry skin, rapid pulse, and nausea.
Defervescence
Drenching sweats, body temperature drops quickly to normal, accompanied by profound relief and weakness.
Which test shows malaria?
Our in-house laboratory delivers rapid diagnostic confirmation within 30 minutes.
| Test | Best time | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) | Day 1 of fever | Detects Plasmodium vivax and falciparum specific antigens rapidly |
| Peripheral Blood Smear (Thick & Thin Smear) | During fever spike | Gold standard microscopy identifying malarial parasite species and load |
| Complete Blood Count (CBC) | Same visit | Checks platelet count, anaemia, and white blood cell levels |
How is malaria treated?
Treatment depends on whether the infection is caused by Plasmodium vivax or Plasmodium falciparum, following national NVBDCP clinical guidelines.
At Nareddy Care
- Consultant review by Physician Dr. Vishnu and Paediatrician Dr. Bramhini
- Same-visit rapid malaria antigen testing and peripheral smear examination
- Targeted Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) or Chloroquine regimens
- Day-care unit for intravenous fluids and antimalarials if oral intake is impaired
- Radical cure primaquine therapy to clear dormant liver hypnozoites and prevent relapse
Do at home
- Complete every single dose of the prescribed antimalarial course without fail
- Drink plenty of hydrating fluids: ORS, tender coconut water, and clear broths
- Take paracetamol at prescribed doses to manage fever spikes and head pain
- Rest adequately until physical energy is fully restored
Avoid
- Self-medicating with over-the-counter fever pills without a confirmed blood test
- Stopping medication early once the fever disappears
- Taking ibuprofen, aspirin, or unprescribed pain tablets
- Skipping the 14-day primaquine course needed to eliminate liver-stage parasites
How to prevent malaria
Sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets, install fine window mesh screens, use mosquito repellent vaporizers, and eliminate stagnant water collections near the home.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between Dengue and Malaria?
Dengue is a viral infection spread by day-biting Aedes mosquitoes and causes platelet drops; Malaria is a parasitic infection spread by night-biting Anopheles mosquitoes, causing classic shaking chills (rigors) and cycles of high fever.
How fast will I get my malaria test report at Nareddy Care?
Our on-site diagnostic laboratory delivers Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) results within 20 to 30 minutes during your consultation.
Why does malaria fever come back every 2 to 3 days?
The malaria parasite multiplies cyclically inside red blood cells. When red cells burst synchronously every 48 or 72 hours, toxins are released into the bloodstream, triggering chills and fever.
Can children get malaria in Tirupati?
Yes. Children are susceptible to mosquito bites. Dr. Bramhini Nareddy prescribes weight-appropriate, child-safe antimalarial syrups and tablets.
Adults seeDr. Vishnu Anjan NareddyMD (General Medicine)Children seeDr. Bramhini NareddyMD (Paediatrics)