African Sleeping Sickness | Medtick
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African Sleeping Sickness

What is it?

Infection by the Tsetse flies and cause swelling of brain encephalitis mainly in Africa.

Diagnosis tests

  • Blood smear microscopy
  • Chancre fluid examination
  • CBC (complete blood count) to check for anaemia
  • CSF examination (lumbar puncture)
  • Lymph node aspirate
  • Serology / screening
    • CATT (Card Agglutination Test for Trypanosomiasis) — mainly for T. b. gambiense screening
  • PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

Countries  affected are:

Africa

  • Botswana
  • Zambia

Cause

  • Parasite:
    • Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (more severe)
      • Causes long term symptoms
      • Progresses slowly (months to years)
    • Trypanosoma brucei gambiense
      • Causes acute form
      • Progresses rapidly (weeks to months)
      • More severe and that can spread more easily between animal and and human
  • Rare congenital transmission (mother to baby)
  • Sharing needle from contaminated person

Treatment

  • Contaminated blood transfusions

Symptoms

  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
  • Hot, red and swelling at bite area?
  • Enlarged glands (lymph nodes) i.e. all over body?
  • Swollen lymph glands and/or reoccurring mouth ulcers?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Joint pain and stiffness?
  • Dry cough longer than three weeks or breathing difficulties?
  • Fear, mood swings, anxiety, irritated and aggressive?
  • Drowsiness during the day, uncontrollable urges to sleep?
  • Lack of sleep at night?
  • Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?
  • Swollen or sticky eye or sensitive to light?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

General tips (may not be as effective)

  • Wear Permethrin – treated clothes.
  • Use insect/tropical repellent spray including N,N-Diethyl- meta-tolumide (DEET), picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus/p-menthane 3,8,diol (PMD).
  • Use window and door screen nets.
  • Use bed nets.
  • Wear thick, neutral-colored clothing (khaki, olive, beige; tsetse are attracted to bright/dark colors and can bite through thin fabric)
  • Long sleeves and trousers
  • Avoid bushy vegetation where tsetse rest
  • Keep vehicle windows closed in endemic areas

Detailed Information

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