Written by Rahul | September 8, 2025
The Familiar Fever We Still Fear
Every monsoon in India, the same story repeats. Families in small towns rush their kids to the local clinic with high fever, shivers that shake the body, and that unmistakable look of exhaustion. The doctor doesn’t even need to guess sometimes — it’s malaria again.
We’ve been fighting this disease for decades, yet here in 2025, it refuses to fade into history books. The parasite keeps changing, medicines keep evolving, and ordinary people remain caught in the middle.
What Really Causes It?
Most of us blame the mosquito — rightly so. But the real villain is a microscopic parasite called Plasmodium. When a female Anopheles mosquito bites, it quietly injects these parasites into your blood.
Different regions see different culprits. Falciparum is the deadliest (common in Africa), while Vivax — the one India knows too well — loves to hide in the liver and come back months later like an uninvited guest.
What did international students at Harvard do this week?
— Samuel Hume (@DrSamuelBHume) May 26, 2025
Discovered a new way to tackle malaria: embed anti-parasite drugs in mosquito nets
In experiments, this eradicated the malaria parasite from 100% of mosquitoes: pic.twitter.com/FhWUGjfPxX
Symptoms You Shouldn’t Brush Off
Ask anyone who’s had malaria, and they’ll tell you it’s not “just fever.” It’s fever that arrives in waves — chills so bad your teeth knock, followed by sweats that drench your clothes. Add splitting headaches, nausea, and weakness that makes even walking to the bathroom feel like a marathon.
The danger? People mistake it for viral fever and delay tests, losing precious time.
How Doctors Treat Malaria in 2025
Here’s where things stand today:
- Artemisinin-based drugs are still the backbone. They work fast, clear the parasite quickly, and are combined with other medicines to stop resistance.
- For Vivax, doctors prescribe primaquine or tafenoquine — these go after the “sleeping parasites” in your liver, the ones that cause relapses.
- In severe cases — the kind where patients are delirious or unable to swallow — hospitals use IV artesunate, injected directly into the bloodstream.
But doctors are worried. In some regions, the parasite is learning to resist artemisinin. It’s like playing chess with an opponent who studies your moves and adapts every time.
Prevention – Still the Best Strategy
If you’ve lived in a malaria belt, you already know the drill: sleep under mosquito nets, spray your room, and get rid of stagnant water near your home. But in 2025, there’s something new to add to the conversation: vaccines.
The RTS,S vaccine (Mosquirix) and the newer R21 vaccine have started reaching children in Africa, reducing severe cases. They’re not perfect shields, but they’re better than nothing — a light at the end of a very long tunnel.
Stories from the Ground
In Mumbai slums, families still keep chloroquine tablets tucked in old medicine tins, even though doctors warn against self-treatment. In rural Odisha, community health workers go door-to-door with test kits, urging villagers not to ignore fevers. And in Delhi, parents still panic every monsoon when their kids complain of chills.
Malaria is not just a medical issue; it’s an everyday fear that shapes how communities live during rainy months.
FAQs
Q. Can malaria kill?
Sadly, yes. Especially falciparum malaria if treatment is delayed.
Q. How long is the treatment?
Usually 3–7 days for the medicines. But with Vivax, you may need extra tablets to stop relapses.
Q. Can you get malaria twice?
Yes. Immunity doesn’t last, and relapses are common.
Q. Is malaria gone from India?
No. Cases have reduced, but it’s still a stubborn presence in many states.
About the Author
Rahul is a staff journalist at Newstic.in, specializing in national and international news with a strong focus on business, technology, and culture. With a background in digital reporting and a sharp eye for accuracy, Rahul delivers stories that blend clarity, depth, and relevance for today’s readers. His work reflects Newstic’s commitment to credible, fact-checked journalism that informs and engages audiences across India and beyond.
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