Sleeping sickness

African trypanosomiasis

Gambiense -infections lead to drowsiness during the day, but insomnia at night. Sleep becomes uncontrollable as the disease gets worse, and eventually leads to coma .

General symptoms include:

• Swollen, red, painful nodule at site of fly bite
• Swollen lymph nodes all over the body
• Headache
• Fever
• Sweating
• Anxiety
• Increased sleepiness
• Insomnia at night
• Mood changes
• Drowsiness
• Uncontrollable urge to sleep

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

Tests include the following:

• Blood smear
• Lymph node aspiration
• CSF test
• Red blood cell count
• Globulin levels
• Albumin levels
• ESR

Antibody and antigen test are not very helpful