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Malaria Pathology
- It is not yet clear what determines the transition from simple malarial episodes to life-threatening attacks, although a role must be played by the interaction between malarial parasites and their host, infections with other pathogens, the host's genetic make-up and the immune and nutritional status of the host
- The endotoxins released upon erythrocyte lysis can trigger a cascade of cytokine-mediated consequences which may lead to fever and, in certain circumstances, to cerebral malaria and anaemia
- Pathology in tropical malaria is also induced by sequestration (adherence) of infected red blood cells to the endothelium (in the brain and in other sites)
- Any untreated P. falciparum infection can, in principle, be fatal
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