Visit your nearest surgery or hospital if you are abroad and have malaria-like symptoms. A blood sample will be needed to check for parasites.
The symptoms of malaria can take up to a year to develop, so you should still let your GP know if you experience flu-like symptoms a while after your travels.
You should tell them about any areas you have been to where there is a risk of malaria, including brief stopovers.
If malaria is suspected, a blood test will usually be carried out at your local hospital rather than at your GP surgery.
The test will confirm whether or not you have malaria parasites in your blood and, if you do, the type of parasite that is causing your symptoms.
You should receive the results of your blood test on the same day. If you have malaria, treatment will be started straight away.
Read more about treating malaria.
