What are the key clinical features to consider when diagnosing malaria in a patient returning from a tropical region?

When considering a diagnosis of malaria in a patient returning from a tropical region, the key clinical feature is fever ¹ (Taylor et al., 2010). This is a primary symptom that warrants immediate attention, particularly given that guidelines like NG143 address the assessment of fever ¹. Beyond fever, other common symptoms include chills, sweats, headache, muscle aches (myalgia), and gastrointestinal disturbances (Taylor et al., 2010). It is crucial to obtain a detailed travel history, specifically inquiring about recent visits to malaria-endemic areas (Taylor et al., 2010; Weiland, 2023). Malaria can present with a wide range of clinical manifestations, and symptoms can often be non-specific, making a high index of suspicion vital (Weiland, 2023). Therefore, any patient presenting with fever and a history of travel to a tropical region should be promptly investigated for malaria (Weiland, 2023).