Symptoms of malaria are often beguilingly mild in the initial stages, resembling influenza. Symptoms of malaria may include a generalised body ache, tiredness, headache, sore throat, diarrhoea, and fever. It is worth emphasising that these symptoms may not be dramatic, and can easily be mistaken for an attack of influenza or similar non-life threatening illness. Deterioration can then be sudden and dramatic, with a rapid increase in the number of parasites in the victim's blood stream. A high swinging fever may develop, with marked shivering and dramatic perspiration.
Cerebral malaria is extremely serious, with the victim becoming delirious and entering a coma.
Cerebral malaria is frequently fatal, and it is extremely important that all suspected cases of malaria should receive medical attention as soon as is possible. Malaria is not a disease to be taken lightly, being one of the biggest killers in history. Every twenty seconds sees another death from malaria in Africa. Considering South Africa's neighbours, malaria is also considered to be a threat to travellers visiting the lower lying areas of Swaziland, while it is encountered throughout Mo ambique and Zimbabwe, and much of Botswana. Northern Namibia is also a malarious area.