African sleeping sickness, also called trypanosomiasis, is a tropical disease transmitted by the tsetse fly and caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei.
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Two to three weeks after infection, the first signs appear, such as fever, chills, edema and swelling of the lymph nodes, as well as an itchy skin rash. This is followed by confusion, seizures and, at the end of the course of the disease, a drowsy stupor. The pathogen can be detected microscopically in the blood. Several agents are available for treatment.
Therapy: Even before the central nervous system is affected, treatment is carried out promptly with drugs such as pentamidine and suramin. If the brain is already affected by the pathogen, the blood-brain barrier must be broken through with the administration of agents such as melarsoprol and eflornithine.
Size of pathogen: 35 µm
Incubation period: 14 - 21 days
Lethality: up to 10
Infections per year: 50,000
Evidence since: 1901 Was this article useful for you? > Then please press the LOB thumb now!
