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What part of the body does African sleeping sickness affect?

What part of the body does African sleeping sickness affect?

This immune response? results in symptoms such as fever, headaches, joint pains and itching. Second stage or neurological? phase: this stage begins when the trypanosome parasites cross from the blood-brain barrier into the spinal fluid, infecting the central nervous system including the brain.

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.

Which part of the body 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.

How serious is African sleeping sickness?

Neurological symptoms, like sleep disturbances, poor coordination, confusion and changes in behaviour, develop within a few weeks or months of initial infection. If untreated, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infection is usually fatal within weeks or months.

Is African trypanosomiasis a virus or bacteria?

Parasites – African Trypanosomiasis (also known as Sleeping Sickness) African Trypanosomiasis, also known as “sleeping sickness”, is caused by microscopic parasites of the species Trypanosoma brucei. It is transmitted by the tsetse fly (Glossina species), which is found only in sub-Saharan Africa.

Where does sleeping sickness come from in Africa?

Human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, is a parasitic infection found in sub-Saharan Africa, transmitted by the tsetse fly. Generally known as sleeping sickness, human African trypanosomiasis is a parasitic infection transmitted by tsetse flies.

How many people are affected by sleeping sickness?

Generally known as sleeping sickness, human African trypanosomiasis is a parasitic infection transmitted by tsetse flies. Tsetse flies are found in 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, putting 65 million people at risk. The infection attacks the central nervous system, causing severe neurological disorders. Without treatment the disease is fatal.

Where does the name sleeping sickness come from?

Sleeping Sickness or African trypanosomiasis is a parasitic disease that is caused by the parasite named Trypanosoma Brucie. It spreads through the bite of a fly called Tsetse which injects this disease into the human body. This fly has its origins from the African countries and hence the name.

Who are the causal agents of sleeping sickness?

Causal Agents: Protozoan hemoflagellates belonging to the complex Trypanosoma brucei. Two subspecies that are morphologically indistinguishable cause distinct disease patterns in humans: T. b. gambiense causes West African sleeping sickness and T. b. rhodesiense causes East African sleeping sickness.