How does our body respond to Malaria?
Immune System:
In order to effectively spread the parasite around the body, it must pass the immune system. Sometimes, a common disease is recognized by the immune system and it will react by defending against the disease because it knows how to from a previous infection due to the immune system's memory cells. If only it was the same for malaria. Unfortunately, plasmodium falciparum can easily trick the immune system by avoiding detection. How? According to a study at HSHP (Harvard School of Public Health) the parasite can change a protein on its service, which helps it to indulge inside an erythrocyte and hide from the immunity defense system. There is a 'switch-like' mechanism inside the parasite's nucleus that can turn on and off at high frequencies; this changing the protein which makes it alter its presence. When the parasite inhabits a new red blood cell, it can return to its natural biological structure and reproduce.
So obviously, the immune system loses its power to recognize this disease and create antibodies to defend itself. The only time where the immune system can detect Malaria is when a victim has been victimized several times with the same strain (unlikely to be Plasmodium falciparum in this case), but this generally only occurs for the repeatedly infected victims living in malaria endemic areas.
Endocrine System:
The endocrine system is a collection of glands that maintain homeostasis and secrete chemical messages, also know as hormones. The messages are sent through the blood stream and are delivered to the target organ. From researching the endocrine's job and function, I assume that if messages are sent through the blood stream and the erythrocytes are being destroyed by the parasite, that this has an affect on sending signals. Also because the erythrocytes are being destroyed, it means less oxygen is being delivered around the body; this effecting organs, hormone levels, the metabolism and other crucial glands. The endocrine system relies on the blood stream to send messages to organs and feed the body with oxygen, with less and less erythrocytes this is made a difficult task. This may result in metabolic acidosis, organ complications and hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia may occur as the endocrine system controls the pancreas gland in which breaks down fats, proteins and sugars, if it is not working efficiently due to disease, the levels of glucose may decrease. Metabolic acidosis may also occur as a symptom for severe malaria as the metabolic system may not be able to balance the acids and alkalines within the body whilst infected with malaria. Symptoms of malaria like sweating, chills and fevers are apart of the endocrine system's reaction as well.
Overall Malaria can affect the whole body, especially organs.
In order to effectively spread the parasite around the body, it must pass the immune system. Sometimes, a common disease is recognized by the immune system and it will react by defending against the disease because it knows how to from a previous infection due to the immune system's memory cells. If only it was the same for malaria. Unfortunately, plasmodium falciparum can easily trick the immune system by avoiding detection. How? According to a study at HSHP (Harvard School of Public Health) the parasite can change a protein on its service, which helps it to indulge inside an erythrocyte and hide from the immunity defense system. There is a 'switch-like' mechanism inside the parasite's nucleus that can turn on and off at high frequencies; this changing the protein which makes it alter its presence. When the parasite inhabits a new red blood cell, it can return to its natural biological structure and reproduce.
So obviously, the immune system loses its power to recognize this disease and create antibodies to defend itself. The only time where the immune system can detect Malaria is when a victim has been victimized several times with the same strain (unlikely to be Plasmodium falciparum in this case), but this generally only occurs for the repeatedly infected victims living in malaria endemic areas.
Endocrine System:
The endocrine system is a collection of glands that maintain homeostasis and secrete chemical messages, also know as hormones. The messages are sent through the blood stream and are delivered to the target organ. From researching the endocrine's job and function, I assume that if messages are sent through the blood stream and the erythrocytes are being destroyed by the parasite, that this has an affect on sending signals. Also because the erythrocytes are being destroyed, it means less oxygen is being delivered around the body; this effecting organs, hormone levels, the metabolism and other crucial glands. The endocrine system relies on the blood stream to send messages to organs and feed the body with oxygen, with less and less erythrocytes this is made a difficult task. This may result in metabolic acidosis, organ complications and hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia may occur as the endocrine system controls the pancreas gland in which breaks down fats, proteins and sugars, if it is not working efficiently due to disease, the levels of glucose may decrease. Metabolic acidosis may also occur as a symptom for severe malaria as the metabolic system may not be able to balance the acids and alkalines within the body whilst infected with malaria. Symptoms of malaria like sweating, chills and fevers are apart of the endocrine system's reaction as well.
Overall Malaria can affect the whole body, especially organs.