Facts On Infection & Risk Factors For African Trypanosomiasis

African trypanosomiasis is a disease caused by the parasitic invasion of various systems in the body. The disease is also called sleeping sickness because it causes disturbances to the sleep cycle. The bite of an infected tsetse fly is the primary cause of transmission. The tsetse fly, which is only found in sub-Saharan Africa, harbors Trypanosoma brucei parasites that spread through your blood after a bite. There are two forms of the disease, Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (TbG) and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (TbR). TbR is the more severe form, but it accounts for less than two percent of reported cases. Symptoms of TbR can appear one to three weeks after transmission, while patients with TbG can remain asymptomatic for months or years. Treating African trypanosomiasis in the early stages is imperative, as if it's left untreated, the infection can progress and spread to the central nervous system and cause extensive damage. Learn about infection and risk factors for African trypanosomiasis now.

Locations Of Possible Infection

Locations of possible infections include the circulatory, lymphatic, and central nervous systems. The disease has two phases that occur in different parts of the body. The first phase occurs in the lymphatic and circulatory systems and is called the haemo-lymphatic stage. The parasites cause severe swelling of the lymph nodes, especially along the back of the neck. Other early symptoms include intermittent fevers, joint pain, skin irritation, headaches, and a red nodule at the site of the bite. The second and more severe phase is called the neurological or meningo-encephalic stage. This stage starts when the parasites cross the blood-brain barrier and invade the central nervous system. Signs of this phase include changes in behavior, muscle weakness, and daytime sleepiness. Disruption of the sleep cycle is the main symptom of the second stage. The neurological damage caused during this stage is irreversible. Without treatment, the disease typically overcomes the body's defenses and causes mental deterioration and organ failure. African trypanosomiasis is typically fatal if left untreated.

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Individuals At Highest Risk

African trypanosomiasis occurs in many regions of sub-Saharan Africa on a regular basis. There are over seventy million individuals living in thirty-seven countries at risk of contracting the disease. Approximately one-third of these individuals are at a moderate to high risk of infection. Risk factors include living in an area where the tsetse fly is found and being bitten by the flies. TbG is found in twenty-four countries in west and central Africa, while TbR is found in thirteen countries in eastern and southern Africa. Uganda is the only country with both forms of the disease. Anyone traveling to these areas is at risk of contracting African trypanosomiasis. Individuals at highest risk for this condition are those who live in rural areas and work outdoors in occupations like fishing, hunting, farming, and breeding farm animals. These are areas where transmission occurs more frequently because of increased exposure to infected tsetse flies.

Learn detailed information about how African trypanosomiasis is transmitted now.