Malaria and pregnancy
Why malaria is especially dangerous in pregnancy and how to protect yourself.
✓ Clinically reviewed · Catherine, RN & Juah, RN
When should I get help?
- Fever, headache or chills: get tested for malaria at a health facility the same day.
- Extreme tiredness, confusion, fits (convulsions), difficulty breathing, dark urine, yellow eyes or unusual bleeding are emergencies.
Key things to remember
- Sleep under a treated mosquito net every night.
- Ask about preventive malaria treatment at antenatal check-ups.
- Fever in pregnancy needs a malaria test straight away.
📖 Read the full lesson
Malaria is spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes. It is a serious disease, but it can be prevented and cured. Africa carries about 95% of the world's malaria cases and deaths.
Pregnant women and girls, babies and young children are at higher risk of severe malaria. Malaria in pregnancy can cause a baby to be born too early or too small.
Protect yourself by sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net, and by using repellent, protective clothing and window screens where you can. In pregnancy, health workers may offer preventive malaria treatment at antenatal check-ups.
Early signs are fever, headache and chills, usually 10 to 15 days after a bite. Malaria can become severe very quickly, so a suspected case should be tested and treated straight away.
📚 Sources
- World Health Organization — Malaria (fact sheet) 4 Dec 2025 · accessed 1 Nov 2026
Written in plain language from these sources. It does not imply endorsement by these organizations.
HH-ART-019 · Version 1.0 · Last updated 4 Nov 2026
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