Symptoms and Diagnosis
- Typical incubation period from infection to development of symptoms is 7 to 18 days
- Although rare, parasites may remain dormant for up to a year before symptoms develop
- Initial symptoms are non-specific and may include:
- High risk of misdiagnosing as influenza or other viral infections
Diagnosis
- Early and accurate diagnosis of malaria is essential for both rapid and effective management
- If malaria is suspected, diagnosis by microscopy or a malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) must be confirmed before treatment is started.