Lasting Headaches and Malaria

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QUESTION

I had malaria in July of 2011, returned to the U.S. in August, and had an occurrence of P. falciparum a little more than a month later. It was quickly treated, but I continue to get headaches. They occur about daily, and exercise induces a very severe headache. Is this a common lasting symptom of malaria?

ANSWER

Once successfully treated, malaria almost never has recurring or lasting side effects, nor are lasting headaches a known side effect of treatment with ACTs (artemisinin-based combination therapies, which is the recommended first-line treatment against P. falciparum). If your headaches are made worse through exertion, you should talk to your doctor about making sure they are not a symptom of a more serious condition.

What do people look like when they have malaria?

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QUESTION

What do people look like when they have malaria?

ANSWER

They look sick! When a person has malaria, they experience a flu-like illness, characterised by cycles of fevers and chills, and often accompanied by headaches and nausea. In addition, they may have jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and eyes) due to loss of red blood cells.