A serious infectious disease of tropical Africa caused by the protozoan parasite, which is transmitted to humans by the bites of tsetse flies. One form of the disease, which occurs in West and Central Africa, takes a slow course, with bouts of fever and lymph node enlargement. After months or years, spread to the brain occurs, causing headaches, confusion, and, eventually, severe lassitude. Without treatment, coma and death follow. The other, East African, form runs a faster course. Fever develops after a few weeks of infection, and effects on the heart may be fatal before the disease has spread to the brain. Drugs can effect a cure, but there may be residual brain damage if the infection has already spread to the brain.
Sleeping sickness |
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