Quantification of levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-8, IL-6, IL-12, and GM-CSF in children with malaria in the three transmission areas revealed a pattern of decreasing cytokine levels with increasing transmission intensity (Accra > Navrongo > Kintampo; Fig. 1). Here, CXCL8 is linked to malaria.