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What should parents know about malaria in children?
Malaria is a serious but preventable and curable disease spread by mosquito bites, and young children are at higher risk.
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What it is
Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes [1]. It is mostly found in tropical countries, and it is preventable and curable [1]. The infection is caused by a parasite and does not spread from person to person [1].
Malaria mostly spreads through the bites of some infected female Anopheles mosquitoes [1]. Blood transfusion and contaminated needles may also transmit malaria [1].
The most common early symptoms are fever, headache and chills [1][2]. Symptoms usually start within 10–15 days of getting bitten by an infected mosquito [2]. Symptoms may be mild for some people, especially those who have had malaria before [2]. Because some malaria symptoms are not specific, getting tested early is important [2].
Infants, children under 5 years, pregnant women and girls, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk of severe infection [1]. Children under 5 accounted for about 75% of all malaria deaths in the WHO African Region in 2024 [1][4]. Left untreated, P. falciparum malaria can progress to severe illness and death within 24 hours [1].
What you can do at home
- Lower the risk of malaria by avoiding mosquito bites [10].
- Use mosquito nets when sleeping in places where malaria is present [4][10].
- Use mosquito repellents containing DEET, IR3535 or Icaridin after dusk [4][10].
- Use coils and vaporizers [4][10].
- Wear protective clothing [4][10].
- Use window screens [4][10].
- Talk to a doctor about taking medicines such as chemoprophylaxis before travelling to areas where malaria is common [10].
- Travellers to malaria endemic areas should consult their doctor several weeks before departure [6]. In some cases, chemoprophylaxis drugs must be started 2–3 weeks before departure [6].
- All prophylactic drugs should be taken on schedule for the whole stay in the risk area and continued for 4 weeks after the last possible exposure [6].
- Malaria is a serious infection and always requires treatment with medicine [8]. Early diagnosis and treatment reduces disease, prevents deaths and contributes to reducing transmission [8].
- All suspected cases should be confirmed using parasite-based diagnostic testing, either microscopy or a rapid diagnostic test [8].
When to see a doctor or go to the emergency department
Severe symptoms include [2][4]:
- extreme tiredness and fatigue
- impaired consciousness
- multiple convulsions
- difficulty breathing
- dark or bloody urine
- jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
- abnormal bleeding
People with severe symptoms should get emergency care right away [2]. Getting treatment early for mild malaria can stop the infection from becoming severe [2]. If your child has fever, headache or chills after being in a place where malaria is present, see your doctor and ask about testing [1][2].
Common questions
Can malaria pass from my child to other children? No. Malaria does not spread from person to person [1]. It spreads mostly through the bites of some infected female Anopheles mosquitoes [1].
How is malaria treated? Doctors choose one or more medicines based on the type of malaria, whether the parasite is resistant to a medicine, the weight or age of the person infected, and whether the person is pregnant [7][8]. Artemisinin-based combination therapy medicines are the most effective treatment for P. falciparum malaria [7][8]. Chloroquine is recommended for P. vivax infection only in places where it is still sensitive to this medicine [7][8]. Primaquine should be added to the main treatment to prevent relapses of P. vivax and P. ovale infection [7][8]. Most medicines used are in pill form, and some people may need to go to a health centre or hospital for injectable medicines [8].
Is there a vaccine? Since October 2021, WHO has recommended broad use of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine among children living in regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission [6]. In October 2023, WHO recommended a second safe and effective malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M [6]. Vaccines are now being rolled out in routine childhood immunization programmes across Africa [6]. The highest impact is achieved when vaccines are introduced alongside other WHO-recommended measures such as bed nets and chemoprophylaxis [6][8].
Can malaria in pregnancy affect the baby? Malaria infection during pregnancy can cause premature delivery or delivery of a baby with low birth weight [2].
Sources
[1] WHO — “Malaria”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria [2] WHO — “Malaria”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria [4] WHO — “Malaria”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria [6] WHO — “Malaria”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria [7] WHO — “Malaria”, section “Vector control Chemoprophylaxis Preventive chemotherapies Vaccine Treatment”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria [8] WHO — “Malaria”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria [10] WHO — “Malaria”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria
This guide summarises published paediatric guidelines. It is not medical advice and does not replace your paediatrician. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
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