Sleeping Sickness
What is African sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis)?
African sleeping sickness, also known as trypanosomiasis and human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), is a parasitic infection carried by tsetse, also known as tsetse flies. There are two versions of the condition, each native to different regions of sub-Saharan Africa and caused by slightly different parasites. The tsetse fly thrives in rural areas, many of which lack adequate medical care, fresh water, and sanitation.
What causes African sleeping sickness (Trypanosomiasis)?
African sleeping sickness is caused by an infection from the parasite Trypanosoma brucei. The invader first targets the blood, lymph nodes, and fatty tissues in the body. The condition becomes especially dangerous when the parasite crosses over into the central nervous system. This eventually causes major disruptions to both voluntary and involuntary body functions.
What are the symptoms of African sleeping sickness?
African sleeping sickness can be difficult to diagnose in the first stage when symptoms are relatively common and can mimic other, less serious conditions. They can include:
- Skin ulcer
- Headache
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Itchy skin
- Achy joints
- Fatigue
- Swelling in the liver or spleen
- Unexplained weight loss
The second stage comes when parasites move from the blood to the brain and start to cause more serious neurological symptoms, like:
- Insomnia
- Daytime sleepiness
- Loss of motor skills
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Behavioral changes
- Seizures
- Progressive drowsiness, sometimes leading to a coma
How many types of African sleeping sickness are there?
There are two types of African sleeping sickness. The parasite Trypanosoma brucei gambiense causes the far more common Western form, and its cousin Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense is responsible for the Eastern version. West African sleeping sickness usually takes from 300 to 500 days to move from stage 1 to stage 2. East African sleeping sickness develops much more rapidly, in 21 to 60 days, but it’s only responsible for 3% of the world’s current cases.
How is African sleeping sickness spread?
Most people get African sleeping sickness after being bitten by an infected tsetse fly. In rare cases, the condition has been transmitted from mother to child, through sexual contact, or in a laboratory setting.
How is African sleeping sickness treated?
The treatment for African sleeping sickness varies depending on what stage the person with the condition is in and whether they have the Eastern or Western variety. The drug pentamidine is used to treat the first stage of West African sleeping sickness, and suramin is used for the early stages of East African sleeping sickness.
Takeaway
Global healthcare providers have succeeded in recent years in fighting the spread of African sleeping sickness. The number of worldwide cases dropped from more than 30,000 in 1998 to around 700 in 2020.
