Sleeping Sickness
Sleeping Sickness
Sleeping Sickness (pronunciation: /ˈsliːpɪŋ ˈsɪknɪs/), also known as African Trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic disease. It is caused by infection with protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Trypanosoma. The disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected Tsetse fly.
Etymology
The term "Sleeping Sickness" is derived from the characteristic symptoms of the disease, which include disruptions to the sleep cycle. The term "Trypanosomiasis" comes from Trypanosoma, the name of the genus of parasites that cause the disease, and "-iasis", a common suffix in medicine indicating a pathological state.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Sleeping Sickness include fever, headaches, joint pains, and itching in the early stage. In the second stage, the patient suffers from a disruption in the sleep cycle, hence the name "Sleeping Sickness". Other symptoms include confusion, poor coordination, numbness, and trouble balancing.
Treatment
Treatment for Sleeping Sickness involves the use of antiparasitic drugs. The specific drug used depends on the stage of the disease. Early-stage treatment typically involves the drug Pentamidine for T. b. gambiense and Suramin for T. b. rhodesiense. Late-stage treatment involves the drugs Melarsoprol and Eflornithine.
Related Terms
- Vector-borne disease
- Parasitic disease
- Protozoan
- Tsetse fly
- Pentamidine
- Suramin
- Melarsoprol
- Eflornithine
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sleeping Sickness
- Wikipedia's article - Sleeping Sickness
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