Malaria is a serious disease caused by a parasite. Malaria parasites are tiny single-celled life forms. They live and reproduce in the red blood cells of humans. This destroys the red blood cells, which makes you sick.
In most cases, people get malaria when they are bitten by mosquitos that are infected with the parasite. At first, malaria symptoms may be much like the flu. In certain cases, the disease can become life-threatening if it isn't treated quickly. But medicines can usually cure malaria.
Malaria tests look for signs of a malaria infection in a sample of your blood. The tests can diagnose malaria early so the disease can be cured before it causes serious illness. Malaria testing is used if you have symptoms of malaria and you have recently been in parts of the world where malaria is common.