Severe malarial anemic children had elevated 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), but lower IL‐3 (p < .001) and TGF‐β (p < .001) than those with uncomplicated malaria. Here, TNF is linked to malaria.