Malaria is a type of fever which is a major cause of morbidity in the developing countries. Despite world-wide attempts to eradicate this disease it continues to be a big problem.
Caused by bite by female Anopheles mosquito which trasmits four types of parasites of genus Plasmodium - vivax, ovale, falciparum, malariae.
Plasmodium vivax is the most common and the Plasmodium falciparum is the most deadly.
Malaria is charactirised by relapsing fever with shaking chills, prostration, anaemia, and enlarged spleen.
Fever paroxysms are characterised by three phases:
Cold phase - lasting for 1-2 hours, during which sudden feeling of cold is followed by shivering, then intense rigors.
Hot phase - lasting for 3-4 hours, when there are hot flushes with headache and exhaustion as temperature reaches its peak.
Wet phase - lasting for 2-4 hours, when profuse sweating occurs as temperature returns to normal.
Fever paroxysms occur
every 48 hours in case of P.vivax, P.ovale,
every 72 hours in case of P. malariae.
In case of P.falciparum periodic fever paroxysms are not seen rather irregular intermittent fever or daily paroxysms may be seen.

Other symptoms - nausea, vomiting, cough, joint pains, abdominal and joint pain. Pallor and jaundice.