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Sleeping Sickness
Medical Questions » Sleeping Sickness
| Name: Sleeping Sickness |
| Also known as: African Trypanosomiasis |
| Parasitic disease of lymph nodes and the brain that only occurs in tropical Africa. |
Causes of Sleeping Sickness
The tiny parasite Trypanosoma brucei (of which there are three further subtypes), which is transmitted from game animals, cattle and sheep to humans by the bite of the tsetse fly. |
Symptoms of Sleeping Sickness
A sore develops at the site of the tsetse fly bite, followed a few days later by tender and enlarged lymph nodes in the groin armpit and neck, fever, headache, rashes and joint pain. Often there are week long periods of perfect health, followed by a recurrence of the symptoms. As the disease progresses, the patient loses weight, becomes very tired and, as the brain becomes involved, wants to sleep constantly. |
Tests for Sleeping Sickness
Diagnosed by specific blood tests. |
Treatment for Sleeping Sickness
Travelers to tropical Africa should avoid tsetse bites by wearing trousers and long-sleeved shirts, using insect nets at night and an insect repellent by day. Drugs are available to treat the disease, but early treatment is essential.
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Complications of Sleeping Sickness of its treatment
Permanent brain damage after recovery. |
Likely Outcome of Sleeping Sickness
May take many months to run its course but without treatment, it is almost invariably fatal. |
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