It soon progresses to include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and sometimes diarrhea. The classic symptom is a fever, usually accompanied by body-shaking chills and in an increasingly predictable pattern. Untreated, it can rapidly progress to liver and kidney failure, coma, shock and death. The diagnosis is typically made by special blood stains which should be performed by people specifically trained in what to look for. Other common travel-related diseases which may mimic malaria to some degree are dengue fever, typhoid, hepatitis and brucellosis.
Treatment is typically with chloroquin, mefloquin or a related drug.
As drug resistance increases so does the need to use more powerful drugs, often in combinations. These drugs are often difficult to get and have serious side effects and should be administered by someone experienced in their use such as an Infectious Disease or Travel Medicine specialist. The Travel Doctor 111 East Main Ave.