african trypanosomiasis
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
By Peter Lisacchi
The Sleepless Victims of African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
What causes it?
It is cause by a vector borne parasite The parasite is called Trypanosoma
How is it transmitted?
It is spread by the tsetse fly It is not physically communicable, but two
subjects near each other can be bitten by the same fly
Who gets it?
Any age group, race, or sex can get it It is specific to rural areas in africa, such as
Egypt and Libya
Etiology
Incubation period is 6-28 days Signs and symptoms- swelling of bite area
followed by severe fatigue, headaches, joint pain, change in behavior and sleeping patterns, and itching
Detected by blood tests and lumbar puncture
Pathophysiology
Can be acute and chronic Even when infected, can be infected again The body will suffer neurological disorders, joint
pain, and itchiness
Prognosis
There is no vaccine Can be prevented by avoiding areas with the
tsetse fly, or by wearing protective clothing Treated with Pentamidine,Suramin,
melarsoprol,eflornithine, and a combination of nifurtimox and efornithine
Can become terminal if left untreated
Bibliography
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs259/en/
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Disease/sleeping_sickness.html
http://goafrica.about.com/od/healthandsafety/p/sleepingsick.htm