What is malaria and how can children be protected from it?

Malaria is a serious infectious disease spread by mosquitoes. It is caused by parasites that enter the bloodstream when an infected mosquito bites a person. Young children are especially vulnerable because their immune systems are still developing. The good news is that malaria is preventable and treatable when caught early.

How malaria spreads:

• Only female mosquitoes of the Anopheles species carry malaria parasites.
• These mosquitoes typically bite at dusk and during the night.
• Malaria cannot spread from person to person through touch, sharing food, or coughing — only through mosquito bites.
• Pregnant women and young children under 5 are at highest risk of severe disease.

Early warning signs in children:

• High fever (often comes and goes in cycles)
• Chills and sweating
• Headache, body aches, and fatigue
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Pale or yellow skin (jaundice)
• Difficulty breathing or lethargy (signs of severe malaria)

When to seek care immediately: Take a child to a health facility or hospital without delay if fever persists, the child is unusually sleepy or irritable, has difficulty breathing, or shows any of the severe signs above. Early diagnosis with a blood test and prompt treatment with antimalarial medicine can prevent serious complications.

Practical prevention steps for families and communities:

• Sleep under insecticide-treated nets (ITNs): Every child should sleep under a mosquito net treated with long-lasting insecticide. These are highly effective and widely available through health programs in malaria-endemic areas.
• Use indoor spraying: Community-wide spraying of homes with insecticides (called indoor residual spraying, or IRS) reduces mosquito populations. Ask your local health authority if this service is available.
• Wear protective clothing: Dress children in long sleeves and long trousers during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
• Use insect repellent: Apply repellents containing DEET (for children over 2 months) to exposed skin, following product instructions.
• Keep living spaces screened: Use window and door screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes.
• Drain standing water: Remove puddles and water containers where mosquitoes breed near homes.

Vaccines and preventive medicines:

• RTS,S (Mosquirix): A malaria vaccine is now recommended by the World Health Organization for children in malaria-endemic regions, typically starting at 5 months of age. Your local health clinic or national immunization program can advise if this is available in your area.
• Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC): In areas with seasonal malaria transmission, children aged 3–59 months may receive preventive antimalarial medicine during high-transmission months. This is delivered through health programs — ask your health worker if your area participates.
• Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp): Pregnant women in endemic areas should receive preventive doses of antimalarial medicine to protect both mother and unborn child.

What to do if a child has symptoms:

• Seek diagnosis immediately through a blood test (rapid diagnostic test or microscopy) at a health facility or clinic.
• Do not wait for symptoms to worsen or rely on home remedies alone.
• If malaria is confirmed, take the complete course of antimalarial medicine prescribed by a health worker, even if the child feels better after a few days.
• Keep the child hydrated and manage fever with paracetamol or ibuprofen as instructed by a clinician.

Useful resources:

For detailed, evidence-based guidance on malaria in children, consult the World Health Organization (WHO), which provides malaria prevention and treatment guidelines, or contact your national health ministry and local health clinics. Your community health worker or district health office can also advise on vaccines, preventive programs, and treatment services available in your region.

This information is educational and not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider. Malaria diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine recommendations vary by region and individual circumstances. Always consult a clinician or your local health authority for personalized guidance and the most current prevention and treatment options in your area.