Diagnosis

To diagnose malaria, your doctor will likely review your medical history and recent travel, conduct a physical exam, and order blood tests. Blood tests can indicate:

• The presence of the parasite in the blood, to confirm that you have malaria
• Which type of malaria parasite is causing your symptoms
• If your infection is caused by a parasite resistant to certain drugs
• Whether the disease is causing any serious complications

Some blood tests can take several days to complete, while others can produce results in less than 15 minutes. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may order additional diagnostic tests to assess possible complications.