How does malaria cause death?

Several ways: Falciparum causes the organism-bearing red cells to stick together and sludge in the brain. Rapid destruction of red cells at the same time can make you anemic enough to cause death, or kill you by elevation the blood potassium, or freed hemoglobin shutting down the kidneys. A variety of more subtle mechanisms can also kill. Malaria is a neglected killer especially of the world's children.

A variety of ways: Malaria kills in a variety of ways. The parasite causes the red blood cells to coagulate in the liver, kidneys, lungs, and brain, causing encephalitis, liver and kidney failure, and pulmonary edema, as well as circulatory collapse which looks similar to septic shock. If not caught early and treated properly, mortality can be as high as 20%. Hope this helps!