Science and Development Network
News, views and information about science, technology and the developing world
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Definitions
- Antibiotic resistance
- Bird flu
- Climate change & insect-borne disease
- Genomics
- Malaria
- Nanotechnology for health
- Tuberculosis
Below is a directory of terms used to talk about malaria. Most definitions have been taken from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
H
Haematological
Having to do with the blood.
Haemoglobin
The red, oxygen-carrying protein found in red blood cells.
Haemolysis
Destruction of red blood cells. Malaria causes haemolysis when the parasites rupture the red blood cells in which they have grown.
Hepatocytes
Liver cells.
Hypnozoite
Dormant form of malaria parasites found in liver cells. Hypnozoites occur only with Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale. After sporozoites (inoculated by the mosquito) invade liver cells, some sporozoites develop into dormant forms (the hypnozoites), which do not cause any symptoms. Hypnozoites can become activated months or years after the initial infection, producing a relapse.
Hypoglycaemia
Low blood glucose. Hypoglycaemia can occur in malaria. In addition, treatment with quinine and quinidine stimulate insulin secretion, reducing blood glucose.
