Fever, chills, sweating, headache, and body aches that come in cycles — classic malaria. Nigeria accounts for 27% of global malaria deaths. At Mascot Healthcare, Akoka, a rapid diagnostic test confirms or rules out malaria in 20 minutes and treatment begins the same visit. From ₦5,000.
Fever that spikes, often in the afternoon or evening, then drops — with sweating. Repeated cycles every 24–48 hours are characteristic of malaria.
Urgent malaria RDTSevere shaking chills before the fever — often so intense they are frightening. This is the classic 'cold stage' of a malaria attack.
Same-day RDT + treatmentFrontal or whole-head headache accompanying the fever — one of the most consistent malaria symptoms.
Malaria RDTGeneralised muscle pain, joint aches, and profound fatigue — often so severe the patient cannot get up.
RDT + assessmentNausea during the fever stage, sometimes with vomiting. Vomiting affects oral medication absorption — IV treatment may be needed.
Assessment for severe malariaIn severe malaria, red blood cell destruction releases bilirubin — causing yellowing of eyes and skin. This indicates severe disease.
Urgent — severe malariaLagos is a year-round malaria transmission zone — unlike seasonal zones in northern Nigeria. Plasmodium falciparum accounts for more than 95% of malaria in Lagos, and this is the most dangerous species. It can cause cerebral malaria and death within 24–48 hours if untreated in vulnerable individuals (children under 5, pregnant women, immunocompromised adults).
In Lagos, it is extremely common for patients to be treated for "malaria-typhoid" simultaneously — receiving both antimalarials and antibiotics without proper testing. This practice leads to antibiotic overuse, resistance, and treatment of diseases the patient doesn't have. Proper testing takes 20 minutes and costs far less than combination empirical treatment. At Mascot Healthcare, we test before we treat.
Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT): A finger-prick blood test that detects malaria parasite antigens in 15–20 minutes. High sensitivity for P. falciparum — the most dangerous species. The result is available before you leave the consultation room.
Blood film microscopy: A blood smear examined under a microscope identifies the parasite species, counts the parasite density (important for assessing severity), and remains the gold standard for malaria diagnosis. Results available the same day.
The WHO-recommended first-line treatment for uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in Nigeria is an artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) — typically artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem) or artesunate-amodiaquine. Chloroquine is no longer effective due to resistance. Fansidar (sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine) monotherapy is also no longer recommended for treatment. At Mascot Healthcare, we prescribe based on current WHO and FMOH Nigeria guidelines.
We do not guess. We test, diagnose, and treat correctly.
Malaria RDT in 20 minutes at Mascot Healthcare, Akoka. By appointment from ₦5,000. Same-day treatment.