The parasites are then carried by the blood in the victim's liver where they invade the cells and multiply. After 9-16 days they return to the blood and penetrate the red cells, where they multiply again, progressively breaking down the red cells. This induces bouts of fever and anemia in the infected individual. In cerebral malaria, the infected red cells obstruct the blood vessels in the brain. Other vital organs can also be damaged often leading to the death of the patient.
Malaria is diagnosed by the clinical symptoms and microscopic examination of the blood.
It can normally be cured by antimalarial drugs. The symptoms, fever, shivering, pain in the joints and headache, quickly disappear once the parasite is killed. In certain regions, however, the parasites have developed resistance to certain antimalarial drugs, particularly chloroquine. Patients in these areas require treatment with other more expensive drugs. Cases of severe disease including cerebral malaria require hospital care.