Clinical Portal 2026 Dr. Murali Gopal
Parent guide

Malaria

Fever with chills after mosquito exposure should be tested early.

Parent Guide Reviewed

Dr. Murali Gopal

Senior Paediatrician & Paediatric Pulmonologist
MCR: 57489
MBBS, DCH(UK), MRCPCH(UK), FRCPCH(UK), CCT Paediatrics (UK), Fellow in Paediatric Pulmonology (Aus), Allergology (Ind)
Last reviewed: 2 July 2026

Parent education only. Most children do well when problems are recognised early and care is sought at the right time. This guide explains what parents can observe safely at home and when to seek medical help.

What is malaria?

Malaria is a mosquito-borne parasitic infection. In children it can progress quickly, especially with falciparum malaria, anaemia or low blood sugar. Diagnosis is by appropriate blood testing, and treatment must be prescribed by a clinician.

Common symptoms and signs

  • Fever, chills, sweating or fever that comes and goes.
  • Headache, body pain, vomiting, poor appetite or tiredness.
  • Pallor, yellowish eyes or enlarged spleen in some children.
  • In severe malaria: drowsiness, seizures, breathing difficulty or shock.

How it spreads or happens

  • Bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes.
  • Risk varies by locality, season, travel and mosquito exposure.
  • Children can have malaria along with another infection such as dengue or typhoid.

Home care while arranging appropriate review

Focus on observation, fluids, comfort and timely review. Avoid self-starting antibiotics, leftover medicines, or unverified treatment plans.
  • Arrange medical review and malaria testing for unexplained fever in a malaria-risk area or after travel.
  • Give fluids and continue feeds as tolerated while seeking care.
  • Use mosquito nets, repellents suitable for age, window screens and source reduction.
  • Do not use leftover antimalarial medicines or incomplete courses.

Red flags / when to seek urgent medical care

Seek urgent medical assessment if your child has any of the following:
  • Drowsiness, confusion, seizure or inability to sit or drink normally.
  • Repeated vomiting, very poor feeding, severe weakness or fainting.
  • Breathing difficulty, severe pallor, yellow eyes, dark urine or very little urine.
  • Any fever in a young infant or a child who appears very ill.

Important facts for parents

  • Malaria cannot be confirmed by symptoms alone; testing matters.
  • A child may worsen even after fever seems intermittent.
  • Mosquito prevention protects against malaria as well as dengue and chikungunya.

Medical disclaimer

General education only This guide provides general educational information for parents and caregivers. It does not replace medical consultation, diagnosis, examination, or individualized treatment by a qualified healthcare professional. If a child is unwell, worsening, or if there is any concern, seek medical advice promptly. Medicines, vaccines, tests and follow-up plans should be decided by a qualified clinician after examining the child.

References

  1. Indian Academy of Pediatrics. Standard Treatment Guidelines. https://iapindia.org/standard-treatment-guidelines/
  2. National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control, MoHFW. Malaria guidelines and elimination resources. https://ncvbdc.mohfw.gov.in/
  3. World Health Organization disease fact sheets and public-health guidance. https://www.who.int/

Last reviewed: 2 July 2026.

Medical review

Reviewed byDr. Murali Gopal

Last reviewed2026-07-02

Medical review statusClinician reviewed

ReferencesIndian Academy of Pediatrics Standard Treatment Guidelines; National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control, MoHFW malaria guidelines and elimination resources; World Health Organization disease fact sheets and public-health guidance

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This parent guide is for general education only and does not replace consultation with your child’s paediatrician. Malaria testing, treatment choice, and follow-up depend on the child’s condition, species, age, weight, severity, local resistance patterns, and public-health guidance.