African trypanosomiasis

African trypanosomiasis or Sleeping Sickness is a neurological disease caused by a parasite transmitted by the tsetse fly, and is only found in Sub-Saharan Africa. African trypanosomiasis is caused by the trypanosoma brucei parasite, and control effects reduced cases to around 2,000 per year by 2019.

Signs and symptoms

African trypanosomiasis is fatal without treatment.

Treatment

There are two forms of African trypanosomiasis, and treatment depends on which form is presented. Drugs used for African trypanosomiasis are:

• Pentamidine, which is available in the United States
• Eflornithine
• Melarsoprol
• Nifurtimox, which may be used together with eflornithine
• Suramin

Suramin

Suramin is not available commercially, but has been identified as a potential medication to treat ME/CFS by research at the Open Medicine Foundation.

ME/CFS

African trypanosomiasis is not known to occur with or be linked to the development of ME/CFS.

Learn more

• African trypanosomiasis - CDC
• Deep Dive Into The Science On ME - Open Medicine Foundation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a U.S. government agency dedicated to epidemiology and public health. It operates under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services.