Symptoms Of African Trypanosomiasis

Commonly known as 'sleeping sickness,' African trypanosomiasis is a serious illness caused by parasites. These parasites, called Trypanosoma brucei, are carried by the tsetse fly, which infects patients with a single bite. African trypanosomiasis occurs in thirty-six countries across rural, sub-Saharan Africa. There are two types of the disease, East African trypanosomiasis and West African trypanosomiasis, each named after the region in which they are found. Each type involves infection with a slightly different parasite. Ninety-eight percent of diagnosed sleeping sickness cases are the West African form, which causes a chronic infection that may take months or years to produce symptoms. The remaining two percent of diagnosed cases in humans have the East African form, which more commonly affects animals, including pigs. The East African form is an acute condition that develops rapidly, sometimes in only a few weeks. Both the East African and West African forms of African trypanosomiasis are found in Uganda. Both kinds of African trypanosomiasis can be cured with appropriate treatment. However, most patients tend to live in remote areas with limited access to even the most basic medical care, and as a result, the disease is often fatal. Approximately twenty-five thousand new sleeping sickness cases are diagnosed each year. There is no vaccine for this illness. Currently, health organizations focus on practical advice to prevent being bitten by the tsetse fly. Experts advise travelers to areas with tsetse flies to wear medium-weight clothing that fully covers their arms and legs.