Malaria: know what to look for when you return home
The symptoms of malaria may not appear until weeks after being bitten by a mosquito. By this time, you could be home from your trip already. Planning a medical appointment after your trip allows your doctor or travel health specialist to examine you and take a detailed history of where you traveled. This information might be important if you develop certain symptoms or illnesses, even months after your return.
If you develop one or more of these symptoms while traveling or after your return home, seek medical care IMMEDIATELY:
- Fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, or tiredness (flu-like symptoms)
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Fevers that occur in a regular or irregular pattern (depending on the specific malaria-causing parasite)
- Jaundice (skin or eyes may appear yellow)
