Other names: African Trypanosomiasis; American Trypanosomiasis; Chagas disease
American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite related to the African trypanosome that causes sleeping sickness. It is transmitted by the bite of a triatomine bug. It is one of the major health problems in South America, but due to immigration, the disease also affects people in the United States.
The first symptoms presented in people bitten by a triatomine bug include a skin lesion or a purplish swelling of the lid of one eye (Romaña sign). The acute phase of the disease lasts about two months and symptoms can include fever, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain. The chronic phase of the disease can last for decades and symptoms include cardiac or gastrointestinal complications.
Antiparasitic treatment is most effective if used early in the course of infection. Benznidazole and nifurtimox are both used to treat American trypanosomiasis.
Human African trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness) is an infection caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma brucei gambiense or Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected tsetse fly. The Trypanosoma brucei gambiense form of Human African trypanosomiasis occurs in West and Central Africa, and the Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense form occurs in East Africa.
The first stage of Human African trypanosomiasis is called the hemolymphatic stage, and symptoms include fever, headaches, enlarged lymph nodes, joint pain, and itching. The second stage of the disease is the meningoencephalic stage, which occurs when the infection has spread to the central nervous system. Symptoms include sleep cycle disturbances, changes of behavior, confusion, sensory disturbances, and poor coordination.
Fexinidazole is approved for the treatment of both the hemolymphatic and meningoencephalic stages of Human African trypanosomiasis.
