2 human diseases Chagas disease and African sleeping sickness.
Trypanosomiasis is a disease caused by the Trypanosoma parasite, which is transmitted to humans and animals through the bites of infected tsetse flies.
There are two types: African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease).
African trypanosomiasis occurs in sub-Saharan Africa and is characterized by fever, headaches, and joint pains.
American trypanosomiasis is found in the Americas and can cause heart and digestive complications.
Both types can be treated if diagnosed early.
Chagas disease occurs in tropical Central and South America.
African Trypanosomiasis occurs in sub-Saharan Africa
African Trypanosomiasis causes altered level of consciousness and coma
African Trypanosomiasis disproportionately affects the poor.
2 species in Africa Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense.
Each year 500,000 cases of African Trypanosomiasis with 50,000 deaths are reported but actual numbers are probably 2-3 times these amounts.
Sleeping sickness, or trypanosomiasis, is treated with pentamidine or suramin in the first phase of the disease, and with melarsoprol and eflornithine intravenous injection in the second phase of the disease.
Efornithine is commonly given in combination with nifurtimox, which reduces the treatment time.
Eflornithine is also effective in combination with other drugs, such as melarsoprol and nifurtimox.
Sleeping sickness, or trypanosomiasis, is treated with pentamidine or suramin in the first phase of the disease, and with melarsoprol and eflornithine intravenous injection in the second phase of the disease.
Efornithine is commonly given in combination with nifurtimox, which reduces the treatment time.
Eflornithine is also effective in combination with other drugs, such as melarsoprol and nifurtimox.
Nifurtimox-eflornithine combination treatment (NECT) is an effective regimen for the treatment of second stage gambiense African trypanosomiasis.