Symptoms include fevers which range from approximately 40–41 °C (104–106 °F) and occur periodically in 72 hour intervals.

[3] Early indications of quartan fever include having irritated spots, welts, hives and burning skin, however this is dependent on individual's tolerance to mosquito bites and may not be evident on some people.

Sporozoites attack and inhabit liver parenchymal cells, called hepatocytes, in order to develop further.

[3] The prepatent period is the time interval for when parasites infect a host and when they can be detected on a thick blood film.

Specifically in the case of quartan fever, the rupturing of liver stage schizonts releases merozoites.