Symptoms Of African Trypanosomiasis

Extreme Fatigue

Extreme fatigue is common to both forms of African trypanosomiasis. In the case of the East African type, fatigue occurs within weeks of infection, while it takes months or years to develop in the West African variety. The disease disturbs the natural sleeping and waking cycle. Patients will often want to sleep for long periods during the day, and they may then have insomnia at night. This disturbance in circadian rhythm leads to extreme fatigue. The fatigue may be accompanied by weight loss. If African trypanosomiasis is left untreated and progresses to its final stages, it can lead to coma, and this characteristic is why it has been named 'sleeping sickness.'

African trypanosomiasis has even more symptoms typically displayed in patients. Learn about them by reading more now.