Key facts. Sleeping sickness is caused by parasites transmitted by infected tsetse flies and is endemic in 36 sub-Saharan African countries where there are tsetse flies that transmit the disease.
Without treatment, the disease is considered fatal
.
Is African sleeping sickness fatal?
Sleeping sickness is curable with medication but
is fatal if left untreated
.
Can you die from African sleeping sickness?
When left untreated, the mortality rate of African
sleeping sickness is close to 100%
. It is estimated that 50,000 to 500,000 people die from this disease every year.
What will happen if African sleeping sickness goes untreated?
Some people develop a skin rash. Progressive confusion, personality changes, and other neurologic problems occur after infection has invaded the central nervous system. If left untreated,
infection becomes worse and death will occur within months
.
Can African sleeping sickness be cured?
There is no test of cure for African trypanosomiasis
. After treatment, patients should be closely followed for 24 months and monitored for relapse. Recurrence of symptoms will require examination of body fluids, including CSF, to detect the presence of trypanosomes.
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.
How long does African sleeping sickness last?
It's a short-term (acute) illness that may last
several weeks to months
. People from the U.S. who travel to Africa are rarely infected. On average, 1 U.S. citizen is infected every year.
Who is most at risk for African sleeping sickness?
Who is at risk for African sleeping sickness? The only people at risk for African sleeping sickness are
those who travel to Africa
. That's where the tsetse fly is found. The parasites that cause the disease are passed on only by the tsetse fly.
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 many people have died from Trypanosoma?
| African trypanosomiasis | Medication Fexinidazole, pentamidine, suramin, eflornithine, nifurtimox | Prognosis Fatal without treatment | Frequency 977 (2018) | Deaths 3,500 (2015) |
|---|
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?
Individuals can become infected with West African trypanosomiasis if they
receive a bite from an infected tsetse fly
, which is only found in Africa. West African trypanosomiasis, also called Gambian sleeping sickness, is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma brucei gambiense carried by the tsetse fly.
How does African sleeping sickness affect the brain?
African Sleeping Sickness (Trypanosome brucei gambiense) is a microbial vector driven disease that affects many parts of Africa. The disease takes
action by first invading the peripheral nervous system of its host
, and soon after passes the blood brain barrier to complete more neurological damage.
Which organ is affected by sleeping sickness?
Sleeping sickness is an infection caused by tiny parasites carried by certain flies. It results in swelling of
the brain
.
What is the drug of choice for sleeping sickness?
From the first decade of this century
arsenicals
have been the most universal and most effective drugs for all cases of sleeping sickness. Melarsoprol, introduced in the 1940s, remains the most universal of these compounds.
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.
