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Description

African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tsetse fly. Symptoms of the disease include fever, headaches, joint pain, and swelling of the lymph nodes. In the later stages, the disease can cause confusion, difficulty sleeping, and even coma. Treatment for African trypanosomiasis includes drugs such as pentamidine and suramin.

Synonyms

• African trypanosomiasis
• nagana
• sleeping sickness
• T. brucei infection
• Trypanosoma brucei infection

Symptoms (patient's findings)

• abnormal weight loss
• anorexia
• depression
• headache
• joint pain
• malaise
• muscle pain

Signs (examiner's findings)

• convulsions
• generalized enlarged lymph nodes
• hepatomegaly
• macular rash
• muscle rigidity
• psychosis
• sensory abnormality
• splenomegaly
• urticaria

Basic Lab Tests (measurements)

• body
  •      enlarged lymph nodes
• serum
  •      Typanosoma brucei antibody
  •      Typanosoma rhodesiense antibody
  •      iron saturation
  •      Typanosoma gambiense antibody
  •      iron
• whole blood
  •      Trypanosoma rhodesiense
  •      hemoglobin
  •      monocytes
  •      erythrocyte sedimentation rate
  •      hematocrit
  •      Trypanosoma gambiense
  •      erythrocytes
  •      Trypanosoma species
  •      rouleaux

Detailed Disease and Condition Information (use the search buttons below to find details on these topics)
All of the following must be considered when interpreting clinical findings and are too extensive to be covered on this site: