Malaria: Types, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Introduction

Malaria is one of the most dreaded diseases. It is widespread across more than 90 countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and regions of South America. It occurs when the malaria parasite, Plasmodium, infects the female mosquito, Anopheles¹. When the malaria mosquito bites humans, within a period of 10 to 15 days, the malaria symptoms start to occur².  

Malaria symptoms vary depending on the subspecies of the Plasmodium that has infected the Anopheles mosquito. Based on the malarial parasite involved, there are four different types of malaria. Each of these types have a different severity of symptoms and needs to be treated differently.  

In this blog, we will discuss in detail about malaria; its type, symptoms and treatment. These will help you better understand this infection and know when to act promptly. 

Types of Malarial Diseases

1. Plasmodium Vivax (P.v)

This is the most common kind of malaria. It is the most widely distributed kind, found all across the globe. More than half of malaria infections found across India are of this type. It may be present in dormant stages and its presence can lead to recurrent episodes of the disease. 

More often than not, it does not prove fatal but can be severely debilitating. Common symptoms of this kind of malarial disease include fever and chills, diarrhoea, severe fatigue and flu-like symptoms³.  

2. Plasmodium Ovale (P.o)

This is one of the least common types of malaria. It is found mostly in western countries of Africa. Rarely, it is also observed in areas of Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. The symptoms include high fevers and shaking chills, headache, cough, diarrhoea, abdominal/joint pain, and body aches. This malaria disease can be recurring as the parasite rests in the patient’s liver and can stay dormant for years. Relapse may occur at any time during this period, with red blood cells being attacked, and the symptoms appearing again. Among all the types of malaria, this one is dangerous, if not deadly⁴. 

3. Plasmodium Falciparum (P.f)

This is the deadliest subtype of malaria in the world. This subspecies of the parasite is found in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. Unlike the above species, this species does not cause liver-stage relapses. 

The patient feels the malaria symptoms like nausea, fatigue, body aches, enlarged spleen, pain in the abdomen, muscles, and joints, fever, headaches, anaemia and specific neurological symptoms like confusion and seizures. The severity of this malaria disease are such that it needs to be checked for, diagnosed and treated in time to prevent fatalities. It can cause significant harm to the brain and the nervous system. Paralysis and convulsions can also occur in this malaria.  

If you are travelling to any of the above areas, take your antimalaria medications to prevent this disease⁵. Additionally, malaria vaccines such as RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M are now available to protect children against P. falciparum infection². 

4. Plasmodium malariae (P.m)

This is the least common kind of malaria. Fever and chills are the usual malaria symptoms. Sub-Saharan Africa and the southwest Pacific are where the malaria parasite causing this kind of malaria is common. It may persist in the bloodstream at low levels for extended periods, causing chronic infection, but it does not remain in dormant form in the liver^1,6. 

Treatment of Malaria

Various regimens are followed in the treatment of malaria, depending on the type and drug resistance in humans. Some common ones include⁷: 

• Chloroquine for uncomplicated chloroquine-sensitive malaria 
• Mefloquine alternative for uncomplicated chloroquine-resistant cases 
• Quinine for chloroquine-resistant and severe malaria 
• Doxycycline used in combination with quinine 
• Pyrimethamine-Sulfadoxine combined with quinine in resistant cases 
• Primaquine for P. vivax and P. ovale (targets liver hypnozoites) 
• Halofantrine used in some resistant P. vivax cases  
• Artemisinin based combination therapy in severe and chloroquine resistance P. falciparum cases 
• Clindamycin adjunct therapy in resistant or severe infections 

Note: Primaquine should be used with caution in G6PD-deficient patients. 

How to Prevent Malaria

While you may think it’s impossible to avoid getting bitten by a mosquito, malaria prevention methods are widely known and accepted. Here are a few^8,9: 

• Avoidance: If you can avoid travelling to an area where malaria is common, then do that. This may mean changing your travel plans, but if you can’t avoid it follow the below-mentioned precautions. 
• Medication: There are standard medications you can take if you are planning to travel to a country where malaria is a risk.  
• Personal Protection: A good way of protecting yourself is to wear clothing that covers the skin of your arms and legs. Additionally, you can also use mosquito-specific repellent sprays as well as topical creams and lotions. Look for the following ingredients in repellents for protection from mosquitoes: 
  • DEET (20 to 50% concentrated) 
  • KBR 3023 and icaridin  
  • IR3535 
  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) 
  • Para-menthane-diol (PMD) 
  • 2-undecanon 
• Added Protection: Use mosquito nets to cover your sleeping area and install screens on doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out. For extra protection, use permethrin-treated nets and clothing, or apply 0.5% permethrin spray to gear such as boots, pants, socks, and tents.   

Conclusion

While malaria is usually a non-fatal disease, some types may be dangerous and require prompt recognition and treatment. Knowing the types of malaria and their severity allows you to act immediately if you notice any symptoms.   

Depending upon the type, several antimalarial medicines are available for treatment, used in various permutations and combinations with other drugs. Yet, the cornerstone of management remains taking adequate precautions to prevent the occurrence of these infections in the first place.

Also Read: Tuberculosis: Types, Causes, Treatment and Prevention

References

1. Buck E, Finnigan NA. Malaria [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. 2025 Jan; [updated 2023 Jul 31; cited 2025 Jul 2]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551711/ 
2. World Health Organization. Malaria [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024 [cited 2025 Jul 2]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria 
3. Menkin‑Smith L, Winders WT. Plasmodium vivax Malaria [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. 2025 Jan; [updated 2023 Jul 17; cited 2025 Jul 2]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538333/ 
4. Okafor CN, Finnigan NA. Plasmodium ovale Malaria [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. 2025 Jan; [updated 2023 Aug 14; cited 2025 Jul 2]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519021/ 
5. Zekar L, Sharman T. Plasmodium falciparum Malaria [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. 2025 Jan; [updated 2023 Aug 8; cited 2025 Jul 2]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555962/ 
6. Mueller I, Zimmerman PA, Reeder JC. Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale–the “bashful” malaria parasites. Trends Parasitol. 2007 Jun;23(6):278-83. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3728836/ 
7. Crutcher JM, Hoffman SL. Malaria. In: Baron S, editor. Medical Microbiology [Internet]. 4th ed. Galveston (TX): University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; 1996. Chapter 83 [cited 2025 Jul 2]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8584/ 
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing malaria while traveling [Internet]. CDC; [cited 2025 Jul 2]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/prevention/index.html 
9. Mississippi State Department of Health. Vector Control and Permethrin Use for Personal Protection [Internet]. MS; [cited 2025 Jul 7]. Available from: https://msdh.ms.gov/page/resources/458.pdf 

 Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof. 

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