In Nigeria, the word ‘malaria’ is almost a reflex. Feel hot? Malaria. Can’t sleep? Malaria. Sudden sweating? Definitely malaria.
But what happens when it isn’t?
There is a growing, often overlooked confusion between malaria symptoms and hot flashes experienced during menopause. The overlap can be subtle, the consequences serious—and, in some cases, life-altering.
Malaria typically presents with fever, chills, sweating, body aches, and fatigue. On the other hand, menopause—especially the perimenopausal phase—can bring intense hot flashes, night sweats, palpitations, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
Now imagine this: a woman in her late 30s or 40s suddenly feels waves of heat rushing through her body, followed by sweating and restlessness at night. In a malaria-endemic environment, the assumption is almost automatic.
But hot flashes are not malaria.
And treating one for the other can delay a critical diagnosis.
Chinyere’s body began to change at 35. Her menstrual cycle became irregular. At 40, sleep became difficult. She would wake up drenched in sweat, her heart racing. Over time, she was diagnosed with hypertension.
For five years, she moved from one treatment to another—malaria today, typhoid tomorrow. Pharmacists dispensed medications. Clinics treated symptoms. But no one paused to ask, ‘What else could this be?
Until one day, she did.
“I feel like this is more than malaria and typhoid,” she told her doctor. She insisted on a comprehensive check.
The results were shocking—both kidneys had been failing silently.
She underwent dialysis for two years. Eventually, she needed a kidney transplant costing over N32m.
A different path might have been possible if the signs had been interpreted earlier.
Menopause is not a disease, but its symptoms can mimic several conditions. In environments where malaria is common, the risk of misdiagnosis or self-medication increases.
This is where awareness becomes lifesaving.
What should change?
Stop assuming, start testing: The World Health Organisation recommends confirming malaria with a test before treatment. Not every fever—or heat sensation—is malaria.
Avoid self-medication: Repeatedly treating presumed malaria without diagnosis can mask underlying conditions and delay proper care.
Prioritise women’s health screening: From age 40, every woman should have a comprehensive health check at least once a year.
Hormonal changes affect the heart, kidneys, metabolism, and mental health.
Listen to your body: Persistent symptoms deserve deeper investigation. If something feels unusual, speak up—just like Chinyere did.
Menopause is a natural phase, yet it remains under-discussed and misunderstood. Many women suffer in silence, while others are treated for the wrong conditions entirely.
It is time to change that narrative.
At Healthserveplus, the focus is clear: providing specialised support for women navigating menopause. From guidance to accessible health checks, the goal is to ensure no woman is left guessing about her health.
If you or someone you know is experiencing unexplained symptoms—don’t assume. Don’t delay.
Get tested. Get informed. Get the right help.
Because sometimes, what looks like malaria… isn’t.
Pharmacist Mosunmola Dosunmu, a certified menopause coach, is the founder of Menopause Support Initiative
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