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1 |African sleeping sickness
African sleeping sickness (African Trypanosomiasis)
Alisha Morash-Fowler
Health Core
October 3rd, 2011
Mr. Lon Ratner
2 |African sleeping sickness
What is Human African Trypanosomiasis Disease?
Human African Trypanosomiasis is known to a vector borne1 which involving protozoa
are transferred through Tsetse fly bites. Tsetse flies can be found throughout sub-Saharan Africa,
however, sleeping sickness cannot. It has become apparent over the years that only specific
(although unknown) species of Tsetse flies carry the disease. People most likely to attain Tsetse
disease are those who live in villages or rural areas that are mainly dependent on agriculture.
There are two types of African sleeping disease, Trypanosoma bruccei gambiense
(T.b.g.) and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesinse (T.b.r). T.b.g is generally found in Central and
Western Africa. T.b.g is known is to the cause of about 95 percent of reported cases of Sleeping
sickness. One may go months, or even years without ever knowing or showing signs of this
disease. T.b.r, however is found more or less in Southern and Eastern Africa. Symptoms are
usually seen within the first few weeks after the disease is obtained. Accounting for a mere five
percent of reported cases, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense almost immediately damages the
central nervous system.
How does African sleeping sickness affect the human body?
Sleeping sickness is thought to be a fatal disease, which, in its first stage
(haemolymphatic) will merely multiply in the blood and lymph tissue. Once the disease has
progressed to its second and final stage (neurological phase), the cells of the disease enter into
the brain, crossing barriers, and infecting the Central Nervous System. Although it is considered
to be mainly a brain disease, ASS also damaged both the heart, as well as the kidneys. T.b.r,
sleeping sickness will generally take the life of its victims within the first year.
1
A parasitic illness transmitted to humans from another arthropod or agent.
3 |African sleeping sickness
What are symptoms of African sleeping sickness?
Although not evident until sometimes months after the initial bite occurred, there are a
few symptoms of Trypanosoma bruccei gambiense. These symptoms include, but are not limited
to an infection at the site of the bite, swollen, tender lymph nodes, and a fever. As well as
muscles pain, joint pain, and the development of a rash. Also, symptoms of infection within the
brain include dementia2, convulsions3, reversed diurnal rhythm4, and confusion. Once affected
by a brain disease, one will digress, eventually becoming mentally impaired and ending in a
coma.
Opposite to T.b.g, with Trypanosoma bruccei rhodiense one will almost immediately
show symptoms. From the loss of appetite to mental disturbances, the symptoms are evident.
Furthermore, kidney and heart damage occurs, which ultimately prevent the illness from being
chronic as the devastating affects cause fatality almost as quickly as the disease was obtained.
Is African sleeping sickness treatable?
While there are available treatments for African sleeping sickness, the treatment mainly
depends on the severity of each patient’s disease. For each type and each stage there is a different
treatment.
For the haemolymphatic stage of T.b.r, the treatment is Suramin. Suramin is used not
only to treat African sleeping sickness, but also river blindness. The side effects of this drug are
generally extremely severe. The dosage for this treatment is weighted heavily upon the patient’s
2
Brain disease with which brain cells die rapidly causing an inability to perform normal daily tasks.
Rapid, uncontrollable shaking of the body during which, the muscles contract and relax continuously.
4
Sleeping an opposite pattern than ones usual (IE; sleep all day, awake all night).
3
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body weight. This type of treatment is only to be administered under direct supervision of the
patients doctors. For the neurological stage of T.b.r is Melarsoprol. Melarsoprol is unavailable in
the USA and Canada. The information on distribution, long-term effects, and so on of this drug
is scarce.
Pentamidine is the treatment used for stage one of T.b.g. Pentamidine is an antibiotic that
fights protozoa, which is used to prevent and treat infections. Although not severe, the side
effects of this drug are evident. Pentamidine has been known to cause fluctuation of blood sugar
levels, an increased appetite, headaches, chills, shakes, cold sweats, increased thirst, fruity
smelling breath, drowsiness, and more. Eflornithine is the treatment of stage two T.b.g.
Eflornithine has a strict and difficult to apply regime which makes it hard for doctors to
administer.
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Cited works
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African sleeping sickness. (n.d.). World health organization. Retrieved October 2,
2011, from www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs259/en/
Circadian Rhythm Disorders - Dr. Janet Tatman - Sleep Disorders Specialist,
Sleep Apnea Treatment, Restless Legs Syndrome, Sleep Problems, Insomnia,
Sleep Clinics Phoenix, Sleep Medicine Scottsdale, AZ. (n.d.). Dr. Janet Tatman Sleep Disorders Specialist, Sleep Apnea Treatment, Restless Legs Syndrome,
Sleep Problems, Insomnia, Sleep Clinics Phoenix, Sleep Medicine Scottsdale,
Chandler, AZ. Retrieved October 2, 2011, from
http://www.drtatman.com/circadian-rhythm.asp
Dementia. (n.d.). NetDoctor.co.uk - The UK's leading independent health website.
Retrieved October 2, 2011, from
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/dementia.htm
Eflornithine - PubMed Health. (n.d.). National Center for Biotechnology
Information. Retrieved October 2, 2011, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000275/
Melarsoprol Drug Information, Professional. (n.d.). Drugs.com | Prescription
Drug Information, Interactions & Side Effects. Retrieved October 2, 2011, from
http://www.drugs.com/mmx/melarsoprol.html
Sleeping sickness. (n.d.). NetDoctor.co.uk - The UK's leading independent health
website. Retrieved October 2, 2011, from
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/diseases/sleeping_sickness.htm
Suramin (Injection Route): Proper use - MayoClinic.com. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic.
Retrieved October 2, 2011, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/druginformation/DR601283/DSECTION=proper-use
Trypanosomiasis, African (Human African Trypanosomiasis, African Sleeping
Sickness) - Chapter 3 - 2012 Yellow Book - Travelers' Health - CDC. (n.d.).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 2, 2011, from
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2012/chapter-3-infectious-diseasesrelated-to-travel/trypanosomiasis-african-human-african-trypanosomiasis-africansleeping-sickness.htm
pentamidine medical facts from Drugs.com. (n.d.). Drugs.com | Prescription
Drug Information, Interactions & Side Effects. Retrieved October 2, 2011, from
http://www.drugs.com/mtm/pentamidine