Sleeping sickness

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African trypanosomiasis

Medications used to treat this disorder include:

• Suramin (Antrypol)
• Melarsoprol
• Pentamidine

Without treatment, death may occur within 6 months from cardiac failure or from rhodesiense infection itself. Gambiense infection causes the classic "sleeping sickness" disease. Both diseases should be treated immediately.

Complications include injury related to falling asleep while driving or performing other activities, and progressive damage to the nervous system.

Call your health care provider if symptoms of this disorder develop. It is important to begin treatment as soon as possible.

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.