Malaria in children: the signs every parent should know
Family health · 18 June 2026 · 4 min read
Malaria is common here, and in young children it can turn serious quickly. Knowing the signs, and acting fast, can keep a small illness from becoming an emergency.
The signs to watch for
Malaria does not always look the same, but in children these are the common signs:
- A fever, or a hot body
- Chills and shivering
- Not feeding or eating well
- Vomiting
- Being unusually tired or weak
- Headache or body pains
Get a test, do not guess
Not every fever is malaria, and treating the wrong thing wastes precious time. A quick test in our laboratory gives a clear answer, so your child gets the right treatment straight away.
When it is an emergency
Some signs mean you should not wait at all. Come to us at once, at any hour, if your child has:
- A fit or convulsion
- Become very sleepy or hard to wake
- Fast or difficult breathing
- Stopped drinking or feeding
- Repeated vomiting
Preventing malaria
- Have everyone sleep under a treated mosquito net
- Clear stagnant water around the home where mosquitoes breed
- Keep the compound clean and cut back overgrown bush
We are here
We have malaria testing on-site and accept NHIS. Please do not wait on a child's fever, come in or call us.
A note from us
This article is general information, not a substitute for seeing a clinician. If you are worried about your health, or your child's, please come in or call us.
Have a health worry?
Do not wait on it. Book a visit, or talk it through with our team.