Children with severe malarial anemia had higher plasma levels of TNF‐α (p < .001), IFN‐ɣ (p < .001), IL‐1β (p < .001), IL‐6 (p < .001), GM‐CSF (p < .001), and IL‐10 (p < .001) than those with malaria only, and mild/moderate anemia. This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and malaria.