Despite these limitations, the present study was able to show that symptomatic P. falciparum infection is associated with increased levels of the cytokines IL-10, IL-13, IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-12p70 while asymptomatic infection is marked by increased levels of IL-10, IL-13, IL-22 and IL-12p70. This evidence concerns the gene IL13 and infection.