Sleeping sickness

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Sleeping sickness is an infectious disease caused by certain flies, which results in swelling of the brain.

African trypanosomiasis

Sleeping sickness is caused by two organisms, T. brucei rhodesiense and T. brucei gambiense. The more severe form of the illness is caused by rhodesiense. Flies called tsetse flies carry the infection. If an infected fly bites you, painful, red swelling occurs at the site of the bite. The swelling is similar to that seen in Chagas disease.

Once the fly bites you, the infection spreads through the blood, causing episodes of fever, headache, sweating, and swelling of the lymph nodes. When the infection spreads to the central nervous system, it causes the symptoms typical of sleeping sickness. When it reaches the brain, behavioral changes such as fear and mood swings occur, followed by headache, fever, and weakness. Myocarditis may develop.

Risk factors include living in parts of Africa where the disease is found and being bitten by tsetse flies. The disease is extremely low in the United States, and is only found in travelers who have visited or lived in those African areas.

Review Date: 11/27/2006
Reviewed By: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.