The symptoms of malaria do not appear immediately after being bitten by an infected female Anopheles mosquito because it takes time for the malaria parasite (Plasmodium) to undergo several stages of development within the human host before causing symptoms. This period, known as the incubation period, involves the travel of sporozoites to the liver, multiplication and maturation of sporozoites into schizonts in the liver, release of merozoites into the bloodstream, invasion of red blood cells by merozoites, and subsequent multiplication of the parasite within the red blood cells. The time from mosquito bite to onset of symptoms can range from a few days to several weeks, depending on factors such as the species of Plasmodium and the individual’s immune response. Symptoms typically include fever, chills, sweating, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue.
