African trypanosomiasis
Synonyms: Sleeping sickness
A rare parasitic disease characterized by infection with the protozoans Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (East African trypanosomiasis) or T. brucei gambiense (West African trypanosomiasis) usually due to the bite of an infected tsetse fly. The first hemolymphatic stage presents with fever headaches fatigue lymphadenopathy and aching muscles and joints. In East African trypanosomiasis the fly bite may develop into a red sore or chancre. This form then progresses to CNS invasion with somnolence and other neurologic and psychiatric symptoms within a few weeks while West African trypanosomiasis slowly progresses within about 3 years. Both forms are fatal if left untreated.
Data from Orphanet are used to provide information on a disease's name, synonym(s), and overview.
Reference: Access aggregated data from Orphanet at Orphadata.
Orphadata: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999. Available on http://www.orphadata.org. Data version April 2024
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African trypanosomiasis?
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