Silent killer disease known as “sleeping sickness”: 4 key signs to look for

The World Health Organization has warned people about “sleeping sickness”: its main symptoms are fatigue, high fever, headache and muscle pain.

Four key signs of “sleeping sickness”(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The World Health Organization has warned people of the risks of contracting a disease commonly known as “sleeping sickness”, which can be fatal without treatment.

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is transmitted to humans through the bites of tsetse flies that have acquired the parasites from infected humans or animals. These flies inhabit sub-Saharan Africa and only certain species transmit the disease. The populations most exposed are those living in rural areas and dependent on agriculture, fishing, livestock breeding or hunting. Travelers who spend a lot of time outdoors or visit game parks in sub-Saharan Africa are also at risk of infection. There is no vaccine or medication that prevents African trypanosomiasis.

The main symptoms of the disease are fatigue, high fever, headache and muscle pain. If left untreated, the disease can lead to death. Depending on the subspecies of the parasite, HAT takes two forms, explains the WHO. Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, present in 24 countries in West and Central Africa, currently accounts for 92% of reported cases and causes chronic disease. A person can be infected for months or even years without major signs or symptoms – and by the time obvious symptoms appear, the disease is often in its advanced stages and the central nervous system is already affected.

The other form is Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, present in 13 countries in eastern and southern Africa, accounting for 8% of reported cases and causing acute illness. The first symptoms appear a few weeks or months after infection, and the disease develops quickly, often invading other organs, including the brain.

Treatment options depend on the form of the disease and its stage. It is more likely to treat HAT successfully if symptoms are detected early. One of the most commonly used drugs to treat gambiense tuberculosis infection in the first stage is pentamidine. Other medications used include suramin, melarsoprol, eflornithine, and nifurtimox when used in combination with eflornithine.

After treatment, patients should be closely followed for 24 months and monitored for relapse, as parasites may remain viable and reproduce the disease several months later. The first case of sleeping sickness was reported in the late 14th century and health experts now hope that a new experimental drug could help eradicate the disease, which is prevalent in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The drug, called acoziborole, is taken orally in a single dose – and it is hoped it could stop transmission of the disease. In the DRC and Guinea, there are 10 clinical trial sites testing the drug under the Medicines for Neglected Diseases initiatives. According to Science News, following a small trial last year, the drug was found to be safe and effective. Results from a larger trial, currently underway, are expected by the end of this year.

Emmanuel Bottieau, an infectious disease specialist at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, who is not involved in the clinical trial, said acoziborole could be a “game changer” if the results are confirmed . He said a single-dose drug was “really a dream for us, coming from such a long history of very difficult, toxic or cumbersome treatments.”