Abstract: The high-risk groups of malaria infection are mainly children and pregnant women. Severe malaria is the main cause of deaths. Its clinical manifestations are severe anemia, acute renal failure and so on. Cytokines produced by the host immune response against Plasmodium infection have an important role in controlling the occurrence, development and prognosis of malaria. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines are closely related to the development and progression of severe malaria.

Key words: malaria, pro-inflammatory cytokine, anti-inflammatory cytokine, chemokine