The synchronized development of different stages of the parasite is responsible for the characteristic cycles of fever in infected humans. A form of the parasite periodically bursts from demolished cells and is released into the blood stream to invade new blood cells.
Different species produce different fever cycles.
Plasmodium falciparum has a forty-eight hour period between fever peaks. The process is repeated over and over until natural or acquired immunity, or antimalarial chemotherapy, or death brings the repetitive process to an end.