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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Is Sleeping Sickness?

I am just wondering about a sickness I knew of in the 40s that a childhood friend of mine had and eventually died of. Everyone called it sleeping sickness. I was only about 8 when she died, but have never heard of what the real disease might have been.
Wed, 11 Jun 2014
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,
Welcome to healthcare magic.

Sleeping sickness is a disease caused by protozoa called Trypanosoma transferred by Tsetse fly mainly seen in the African regions.After the bite of tsetse fly the protozoa cause the illness which initially presents as fever,joint pains,enlargement of lymph nodes which then slowly can enter the central nervous system causing drowsiness,confusion,disturbances of sleep for which it is called sleeping sickness.

If the treatment is not done it can lead to death but treatment with drugs like pentamidine prevents further progress of disease.Control with insecticides can help in reduction of the number of flies.

Hope this answers the query.

Regards,
Dr.Tushar Tamboli
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What Is Sleeping Sickness?

Hi, Welcome to healthcare magic. Sleeping sickness is a disease caused by protozoa called Trypanosoma transferred by Tsetse fly mainly seen in the African regions.After the bite of tsetse fly the protozoa cause the illness which initially presents as fever,joint pains,enlargement of lymph nodes which then slowly can enter the central nervous system causing drowsiness,confusion,disturbances of sleep for which it is called sleeping sickness. If the treatment is not done it can lead to death but treatment with drugs like pentamidine prevents further progress of disease.Control with insecticides can help in reduction of the number of flies. Hope this answers the query. Regards, Dr.Tushar Tamboli