Trypanosomiasis

Trypanosomiasis General Information

Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is considered a disease characteristic to the Saharan area of Africa. It is usually caused by the flagellate protozoan, called Trypanosoma brucei found in other subspecies, but the most likely to cause the disease are Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiene and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. These parasites usually transmit the disease to humans by bites of infected tsetse flies, certain Glossina species, which are located only in regions of Africa. The disease occurrence usually depends on the affected region; in some cases, the disease can appear as a complication or side effect of other more severe conditions, or can be caused by certain bacteria present in the meat of local animals.

The main epidemiology factor that leads to the development of Trypanosomiasis is the tsetse fly contact. This kind of interaction is drastically influenced by the increased tsetse fly density in the last ten years, changing their feeding habits, but also by the human development into infested areas. The way the disease develops is strange and it is harder to prevent certain stages; this is why the disease is the major cause of death in Africa. After the patient has been bitten by the tsetse fly, he can experience a skin chancre at the bite site. After entering the patient’s organism, they mature and divide into the bloodstream and lymphatic system, causing signs and symptoms that can include malaise, intermittent fever, wasting and rash. If Trypanosomiasis is not treated early, it affects the patient’s central nervous system.

Trypanosomiasis Symptoms

In most cases, the signs and symptoms caused by Trypanosomiasis develop in two stages, both consisting in a series of manifestations different in severity and period of evolution. In the first stage, also called the hemolymphatic stage, the patient can experience certain signs and symptoms that can include intermittent fever, general malaise, myalgia, headache, painless skin chancre that usually appear in the first ten days after he was bitten, generalized lymphadenopathy, pruritus, urticaria, and facial edema. In the second stage, when Trypanosomiasis starts to affect the patient’s central nervous system, the patient can experience certain signs and symptoms that can include persistent headaches, daytime somnolence followed by nighttime insomnia, loss of appetite, wasting syndrome, depression, weight loss, behavioral changes, mood swings, and seizures, which usually appear in young patient.

Trypanosomiasis can also cause certain physical manifestations, which are similar to the clinical manifestations and evolve in two stages. In the hemolymphatic stage, the patient can experience an indured chancre at the bite site, skin lesions which usually appear in patients who present a lightened skin, fever, tachycardia, irregular rash, edema, and weight loss. In the second stage, the patient can experience a slowed onset of the central nervous system, and certain signs and symptoms such as irritability, tremors, occasional ataxia, hemiparesis, increase muscle rigidity and tonicity and signs of meningitis, Kerandel syndrome manifestations, delayed pain, behavioral changes, psychosis, speech disorders, seizures, stupor and even coma. If these conditions are not treated properly they can progress causing the death of the patient.

Trypanosomiasis Treatment

In treating Trypanosomiasis, there are two major medicines that can be effectively administered, and can include Nebupent and Pentam. Usually, Nebupent is used to prevent pneumocysts pneumonia especially in patients who have HIV. This kind of medicine is an antiprotozal agent with an unknown form of acting. It is very important for the patient to avoid the medicine if he suffers from allergies to certain ingredients of Nebupent or if he is taking certain medicines that can affect the curing process, and can include Cisapride, Dofetilide, Astemizole, Terfenadine, Ibutilide, Sparfloxacin, Ziprasidone, and Zalcitabine. These medicines interact with Nebupent and interfere in the process if treating Trypanosomiasis because combined, they cause certain sever side effects, for example irregular heart beat. In treating Trypanosomiasis, the doctor should know if the patient is suffering from certain conditions that can worsen his health status, and can include cases in which the patient is pregnant or plans to become pregnant, is taking any prescribed medicines, herbal compounds, or dietary supplements, presents allergies to medicines, foods or other substances, or is suffering from heart dysfunctions such as irregular heart rate, high or low blood pressure, blood disorders (anemia, low levels of white blood cells or platelets, kidney disorders, low amounts of calcium into the blood stream) and pancreas or liver disorders. There are also cases in which a patient who suffers from Trypanosomiasis presents also certain conditions that can include diabetes, low blood sugar, dehydration, history of lungs and breathing problems, smoking, or red, swollen, blistered and peeling skin. There are also certain medicines that, if are administered in combination with this kind of drug can affect the patient’s kidney, and can include amphotericin B, Cisplatin, Cyclosporine, Foscarnet and Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. It is very important for the patient to consult the health care provider before starting the treatment, because there are many other medicines that can interact with it. This kind of medicine is usually administered as an inhalation in the hospital, but it can also be applied at home, following the inhalation procedures that can be found at the health care provider. In most cases, the medicine must be mixed with 6 ml of water and then inhaled until the entire chamber is empty. It is very important for the patient to continue the treatment, even after the condition has improved, so that the disease does not recur. In treating Trypanosomiasis, the medicines can also cause certain side effects that can include decrease appetite, diarrhea, headache, nausea, bad taste in the patient’s mouth, sinus inflammation, night sweats, severe allergic reactions, blurred vision, chest pain, irregular heart beat, fever, herpes infection, chills, weakness, seizures, cough, slurred speech and stomach pain. Pentam is another efficient medicine, but less used that acts similar to Nebupten and can be administered in the same way; it gives more good results if it used in early stages of the disease. All these medications must be taken as the doctor recommended. Try to avoid losing a dose or overdosing.