Malaria is an infection spread by a type of mosquito. It happens when a mosquito bites someone infected with malaria and picks up the offending parasite, then deposits it in the blood stream of a subsequent person that it bites. According to the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center College of Medicine, Plasmodium falciparum, often called P. falciparum or just falciparum, is the deadliest of the parasites that cause malaria. Contraction of this illness requires hospitalization and aggressive medical treatment. Symptoms of falciparum malaria become evident 8 to 12 days after you are bitten.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting present early in the course of the illness. Body aches, a headache and a feeling of having the flu often accompany these symptoms. You will probably notice a low-grade fever at this time.
Chills, Fever, Sweating Cycle
Malaria is characterized by a cycle of chills or shivering, followed by a high fever. This fever is followed by severe sweating, extreme tiredness and sleep. The cycle usually returns every two to three days. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea may occur during this cycle. The stools may become bloody.
Brain Disturbances
Falciparum malaria may disturb the brain. The symptoms of this include confusion, headache, excessive sleepiness, convulsions, fever above 104 degrees and coma.
Organ Failure
This type of malaria can lead to massive organ failure, affecting the liver and kidney. You may notice soreness in the area of the liver, low urine volume, dark urine and progressive confusion. Milder symptoms of organ compromise include yellowed skin and eyes and anemia, manifested by weakness. The spleen may become enlarged and rupture, causing a dangerous bleed inside the body. This would make you feel incredibly weak and lead to fainting and unconsciousness.
Difficulty Breathing
The U.S. National Library of Medicine describes a scenario in which malaria can cause a buildup of fluid in the lungs. This would make your breathing incredibly difficult and could lead to respiratory failure.
What to Do
If you feel you may have been exposed to a malaria-infected mosquito and develop any of these symptoms, seek medical care immediately. Death can occur in a matter of hours after the first signs of falciparum malaria become apparent.
