ABSTRACT
Malaria may be defined as an illness caused by the development of Plasmodium spp. parasites within host red blood cells. It follows that diagnosis might first be suggested by the clinical features presented or described by the patient, then confirmed by evidence of the presence of parasites in the peripheral blood. The correct and timely diagnosis of malaria is critically important because the infection may rapidly develop into a life-threatening form of the disease, requiring urgent medical attention. A history of travel to a malaria-endemic area usually provides a helpful hint.
