Biomarkers for predicting the severity of malaria and methods for their detection are disclosed. In one aspect, the present application discloses CXCL4, CXCL10, VEGF, PGDF, IL-1Ra, IL-8, MIP-1β, sFas, Fas-L, sTNF-R2, and sTNF-R1 as biomarkers for the severity of malaria. In another aspect, the present application discloses a method for determining the severity of malaria and predicting mortality due to cerebral malaria. The method comprises the detection of the biomarkers CXCL4 and/or CXCL10 and at least one more biomarker and determining the severity of malaria and predicting mortality due to cerebral malaria based upon the ratio of expression of the biomarkers in the subject versus the expression of the biomarkers in a control.