What are the symptoms of malaria?

• A. Recurrent fevers and can lead to death.
• B. Chronic coughing.
• C. Skin rash.
• D. Nausea only.

Answer: (A)

Malaria most clearly presents as a feverish illness with recurrent fever paroxysms. After a mosquito bite, the parasite cycles between liver and red blood cells, and when infected cells rupture, fever, chills, and sweating occur in repeating waves. This fever pattern is a hallmark because it reflects the parasite’s synchronized replication and release. In addition to the fever, many people experience headache, nausea, vomiting, and general malaise, and without treatment the infection can progress to severe complications like severe anemia, organ failure, or cerebral malaria, which can be fatal. The other symptoms listed—chronic coughing or a skin rash—are not typical defining features of malaria, and nausea on its own would not capture the characteristic recurrent fever.