A bite by the tsetse fly is often painful and can develop into a red sore , also called a chancre. Fever, severe headaches, irritability, extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and aching muscles and joints are common symptoms of sleeping sickness
How long do tsetse fly bites last?
If left untreated, infection becomes worse and death will occur within several weeks or months . West African trypanosomiasis: A bite by the tsetse fly is often painful. Occasionally, within 1 to 2 weeks, the infective bite develops into a red sore, also called a chancre (SHAN-ker).
Are tsetse fly bites dangerous?
Seek immediate medical attention if bitten by a tsetse fly (the bite is painful) and symptoms appear. If untreated, African Trypanosomiasis can lead to a coma and be fatal . Treatment includes taking antiparasitic drugs.
Is there a cure for tsetse fly?
There is no vaccine or medicine that prevents African trypanosomiasis. Travelers can protect themselves by preventing tsetse fly bites.
Do all tsetse flies carry sleeping sickness?
Tsetse flies are found just in sub-Saharan Africa though only certain species transmit the disease . For reasons that are so far unexplained, in many regions where tsetse flies are found, sleeping sickness is not.
Are tsetse fly bites painful?
A bite by the tsetse fly is often painful and can develop into a red sore, also called a chancre. Fever, severe headaches, irritability, extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and aching muscles and joints are common symptoms of sleeping sickness.
What disease do tsetse flies cause?
African sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis) is a disease caused by a parasite. It is passed on by the bite of the infected tsetse fly.
Is there a vaccine for sleeping sickness?
There is no vaccine or drug for prophylaxis against African trypanosomiasis . Preventive measures are aimed at minimizing contact with tsetse flies.
What is the control for sleeping sickness?
Regular screening of communities in areas where tsetse flies are endemic and the culling of wild animal reservoirs, as well as personal approaches such as the use of insect repellent and the wearing of long-sleeved shirts and pants, have also helped reduce the number of cases of sleeping sickness.
How does tsetse fly look like?
Tsetse flies are rather drab in appearance: their colour varies from yellowish brown to dark brown , and they have a gray thorax that often has dark markings. The abdomen may be banded. The stiff, piercing mouthparts, directed downward as the fly bites, are held horizontally at other times.
Is Sleeping sickness curable?
Sleeping sickness is curable with medication but is fatal if left untreated.
Who does sleeping sickness affect the most?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the most affected country in the world, accounting for 75% of the Trypanosoma brucei gambiense cases. The population at risk being about 69 million with one third of this number being at a ‘very high’ to ‘moderate’ risk and the remaining two thirds at a ‘low’ to ‘very low’ risk.
Why are tsetse flies attracted to blue?
“When the tsetse flies are looking for targets to bite, they’re generally looking for something that contrasts with the green vegetation ,” explains Steve Torr, an entomologist at the University of Liverpool in the U.K. “They’re attracted to bright colors, and for some reason they’re especially attracted to bright blue. ...
Does sleeping sickness make you sleep?
Once the brain is affected it results in changes in behaviour, confusion, poor coordination, difficulties with speech and disturbance of sleep (sleeping through the day and insomnia ? at night), hence the term ‘sleeping sickness’.
How is sleeping sickness diagnosed?
How is sleeping sickness diagnosed? Diagnosing sleeping sickness involves invasive tests to confirm a positive result by the rapid diagnostic tests used for community screening. Diagnosis requires confirming the presence of the parasite in any body fluid, usually in the blood and lymph system through a microscope.
How is African sleeping sickness contracted?
African sleeping sickness is a disease caused by a parasite. It is passed on by the bite of the infected tsetse fly . The only risk factor is travel to parts of Africa where the tsetse fly is found. The only way to prevent the disease is to prevent insect bites.
