Once diagnosed, a malaria infection can be treated using antimalarial drugs. The disease can also be prevented by taking drugs before bitten by a malaria-infected mosquito. Travellers to malaria-endemic areas will be advised to take drugs before, during and after their trip.

In Africa, in areas of high transmission, children under the age of 5 are given a monthly dose of an antimalarial drug during the malaria season. This is known as seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC).