West African Sleeping Sickness

What is West African Sleeping Sickness ?

West African Sleeping Sickness also termed as West African Trypanosomiasis, which is also called Gambian sleeping sickness, is a long-lasting (chronic) infection. The infection spreads over time to affect the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). Without treatment, this is a life-threatening condition.

What are the causes of West African Sleeping Sickness?

This condition is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei gambiense.This parasite infects tsetse flies in parts of Western Africa and Central Africa, usually in areas that have forests, thick shrubbery, rivers, and water holes. A person can become infected after:

• Being bitten by an infected tsetse fly.
• Receiving blood or an organ transplant from an infected person (rare).
• Having unprotected sex with an infected person (rare).

An infected mother can pass along the infection to her unborn child.

What increases the risk of West African Sleeping Sickness?

This condition is more likely to develop in people who have spent long periods of time in rural parts of Western Africa or Central Africa. The risk of infection increases with the number of times that a person is bitten by tsetse flies.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Early symptoms of this condition may take weeks or months to develop. These symptoms include:

• A painful sore at the site of the tsetse bite. The sore develops 1–2 weeks after the bite. The sore goes away within several weeks.
• Fever. The fever may come and go.
• Swollen lymph nodes, especially around the neck.
• A rash.
• Swelling around the eyes and hands.
• Headaches.
• Fatigue.
• Aching muscles and joints.
• Weight loss.
• Rapid heartbeat.

Later symptoms may take months or years to develop. These symptoms include:

• Personality changes.
• Severe headache.
• Irritability.
• Loss of concentration.
• Progressive confusion.
• Daytime sleepiness and inability to sleep at night.
• Slurred speech.
• Seizures.
• Difficulty walking and talking.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed with tests. These may include:

• A blood test.
• Lumbar puncture. In this test, a small amount of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord is removed and examined.
• A lymph node biopsy. In this test, a sample of fluid from a lymph node is removed and examined.

How is this treated?

This condition is treated with medicines that are injected into the skin or a vein. Treatment is usually done at a hospital where a health care provider can watch for side effects of the medicines. Further treatment depends on symptoms and test results.

After the condition has been treated, it is important to follow-up regularly with your health care provider for 2 years. During these visits, your health care provider will make sure that the treatment is successful. The visits may require you to have a lumbar puncture.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You develop sores where the medicine was injected.
• You develop nausea or vomiting.
• You develop pain in your abdomen.
• You have numbness or tingling in your hands or feet.
• You develop hearing loss.
• You develop new symptoms.
• Your symptoms get worse.

Get help right away if:

• You have a seizure.
• You faint.