Sleepy sickness

Sleeping sickness, also known as African trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic disease. It is caused by infection with protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Trypanosoma. They are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected tsetse fly.

Etiology

Sleeping sickness is caused by two types of parasitic protozoa, Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. T. b. gambiense accounts for over 98% of reported cases and causes a chronic infection. T. b. rhodesiense causes an acute infection and is found in eastern and southern Africa.

Transmission

The disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected tsetse fly. The flies acquire the parasites when they feed on the blood of an infected person or animal.

Symptoms

The symptoms of sleeping sickness include fever, headaches, joint pains, and itching. In the second stage of the disease, the parasites cross the blood-brain barrier to infect the central nervous system, causing changes in behavior, confusion, sensory disturbances, poor coordination, and disturbance in the sleep cycle, which gives the disease its name.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis is made by identifying the parasite in blood, lymph node aspirate, or cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment involves the use of specific anti-trypanosomal drugs, which are administered under medical supervision.

Prevention and Control

Prevention and control of sleeping sickness involve controlling the tsetse fly population and diagnosing and treating infected individuals to prevent disease transmission.

See Also

• Tsetse fly
• Trypanosoma brucei gambiense
• Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense
• Vector-borne disease
• Parasitic disease