Malaria is not foreign to Canada. The number of imported cases of malaria varies from year to year, and is generally around 400 cases annually with a high of 1,036 reported cases in 1997. Therefore, the true number of imported cases into Canada is likely to be higher. Due to the anticipated increase in Canadians travelling and the changing geographic distribution of malaria worldwide, the rate of imported malaria in Canadians is likely to increase. Symptoms Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain and malaise.
Acute infection can cause enlargement of the spleen and make the liver tender.
Cerebral malaria, which may occur with P. falciparum infection, affects the brain, and its symptoms include personality change, confusion, lethargy and seizures. The severity of the illness varies depending on which species of the malaria parasite is responsible for the infection. Of the four species causing malaria, P. falciparum leads to the most serious illness. Severe falciparum malaria can cause seizures, coma, kidney failure and respiratory failure, which can lead to death. Because the symptoms of malaria are non-specific, an accurate diagnosis is not possible without a blood test.