Sleeping sickness

Alternative names:

African trypanosomiasis

Symptoms:

• swollen red painful nodule at site of inoculation
• generalized lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes all over the body)
• headache
• fever
• sweating
• anxiety
• increased sleepiness
• insomnia at night
• mood changes
• drowsiness
• uncontrollable urge to sleep

Signs and tests:

Physical examination may show signs of meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the brain and meninges).

Tests

• peripheral blood smear (demonstrates motile trypanosomes in blood)
• lymph node aspiration (demonstrates motile trypanosomes in node material)
• CSF (demonstrates motile trypanosomes in CSF)