QUESTION

I am having malaria with severe eye pains. What is this?

ANSWER

Have you actually been diagnosed with malaria, or do you just think you have malaria based on the symptoms? If the latter, I would suggest you visit the doctor immediately. Eye pain is not usually associated with malaria (beyond the fact that some headaches manifest behind the eyes), whereas eye pain is a common symptom of dengue fever, which is common in many of the same parts of the world as malaria.

The other symptoms of dengue include fever and nausea and are thus similar to the general symptoms of malaria, allowing them to be mistaken for each other in some cases. If the pain worsens with eye movement, this is also characteristic of dengue fever. A key symptom is the presence of a rash, similar to that of measles.

Diagnosis is usually made based on clinical presentation, so it is crucial you see a doctor or visit a clinic. Other tests, such as a tourniquet test or a white blood cell count, can also assist diagnosis. If necessary, there are also laboratory tests, such as cell culture or PCR, which can be used to confirm the infection.