Trypanosomiasis

1 Pages 174 Words

Trypanosomiasis or more commonly known as the African sleeping sickness is caused by trypanosomes, which are protozoan parasites.
It is transmitted to humans through the bite of the tsetse fly of the genus Glossina. When a person becomes infected, the trypanosome multiples in the blood and lymph glands, crossing the blood-brain barrier to invade the central nervous system, It then provokes major disorders. Infection causes changes, which are not temporary even after successful treatment. Retardation among cured children is frequent. Without treatment, the disease is always fatal.
There are 2 different kinds of these diseases: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, which causes a constant infection lasting years. And Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, which causes severe illness lasting several weeks.
Sleeping sickness is a daily threat to more than 60 million people. It is recorded in 36 countries of sub-Saharan Africa. However, only 3 to 4 million of these people are under watch or close care.
Discovery of people infected with sleeping sickness require well-trained staff, resources, drugs and well-equipped health centers. Most of these people will die without being diagnosed....