Is malaria a serious illness, or is it like the common cold?

Very serious: Malaria is a potentially fatal infection with a parasite that is transmitted by mosquito bite. It can cause fever, anemia, brain swelling, lung injury and death. It is responsible for 1 million deaths a year, mostly in underdeveloped countries. This is tragic since it is treatable with support and medicine active against the parasite. It is preventable with measures to control mosquitoes.

Many differences: Cold is usually a contagious viral infection of the lining of the throat. Malaria is a mosquito transmitted protozoa which causes disease of the liver and blood cells, serious fever, and can be lethal or chronic. It is a plague of the tropics and a high cause of childhood death. It is not infectious from person to person (unless they shared blood somehow). So quite different than a cold.