Sleeping Sickness

What is African sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis)?

African sleeping sickness, also called trypanosomiasis, is a serious disease caused by a parasite that’s spread by tsetse flies. These flies live in rural parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where there might be limited access to medical care, clean water, and proper sanitation.

What causes African sleeping sickness?

African Sleeping Sickness, also called trypanosomiasis, is a disease caused by a parasite spread through tsetse fly bites. There are two types: one found in West Africa and another in East Africa.

What are the symptoms of African sleeping sickness?

• Early symptoms: skin ulcers, fever, headache, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and joint aches.
• Later stages: when the parasite affects the brain, you may experience sleepiness, confusion, loss of motor skills, hallucinations, and even coma.

How is African sleeping sickness treated?

• West African sleeping sickness: Pentamidine is used in the early stage.
• East African sleeping sickness: Suramin is used in early stages. In advanced stages, stronger medications are needed.

How is African sleeping sickness spread?

The disease is mainly spread through the bite of an infected tsetse fly. It can also spread rarely through sexual contact or from mother to child.

Takeaway: Efforts to fight the disease have been successful, and the number of cases has dropped significantly.