SLEEPING SICKNESS Meaning and
Definition
-
Sleeping sickness, also known as African trypanosomiasis, is a parasitic disease caused by the Trypanosoma brucei parasite. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of tsetse flies, which are found in Sub-Saharan Africa. This vector-borne illness is classified into two stages: the first stage involves non-specific symptoms, while the second stage affects the central nervous system, leading to various neurological complications.
In the initial stage, individuals may experience fever, headache, muscle aches, and joint pain. These symptoms are often mild and can be easily overlooked or misdiagnosed. If left untreated, the infection progresses to the second stage, where symptoms become more severe and can include sleep disturbances, mood changes, confusion, difficulty walking, and eventually, a deep sleep-like state that gives the disease its name.
Sleeping sickness can cause substantial neurological damage and, if untreated, is ultimately fatal. Diagnosis is made by detecting the parasite in blood, lymph nodes, or cerebrospinal fluid samples. Treatment options vary depending on the stage of the disease and may involve medications that target the parasite, such as pentamidine or suramin for the first stage and melarsoprol or eflornithine for the second stage.
Prevention of sleeping sickness mainly relies on controlling the tsetse fly population through vector control measures, such as insecticide-treated materials and traps. Additionally, individuals traveling to or residing in endemic regions are advised to wear protective clothing, apply insect repellent, and sleep in screened or air-conditioned accommodations to minimize exposure to tsetse flies.
-
1. African trypanosomiasis, African lethargy, nelavan, narcolepsy; an endemic disease in tropical Africa caused by the presence in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of Trypanosoma gambiense, a protozoan introduced by the bite of a species of tsetse fly, Glossina palpalis. The symptoms consist in mental deterioration, an increasing tendency to drowse or sleep, tremors, enlargement of the lymphatic glands, emaciation, an evening elevation of temperature, and a rapid pulse. The disease is uniformly fatal, if untreated, but recovery has been observed after the employment of organic arsenic compounds. 2. Encephalitis lethargica.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SLEEPING SICKNESS
- aleeping sickness
- zleeping sickness
- xleeping sickness
- dleeping sickness
- eleeping sickness
- wleeping sickness
- skeeping sickness
- speeping sickness
- soeeping sickness
- slweping sickness
- slseping sickness
- sldeping sickness
- slreping sickness
- sl4eping sickness
- sl3eping sickness
- slewping sickness
- slesping sickness
- sledping sickness
- slerping sickness
Etymology of SLEEPING SICKNESS
The term "sleeping sickness" is believed to have originated in the late 19th century.
The word "sleeping" comes from the Old English word "slæpan", which means "to sleep". This term refers to the most prominent symptom of the disease, which is a deep and prolonged sleep.
The word "sickness" comes from the Old English word "seocnes", which means "sickness" or "disease".
When combined, the term "sleeping sickness" was used to describe a disease characterized by excessive sleep and other neurological symptoms. It was primarily used to refer to African Trypanosomiasis, a parasitic disease transmitted by the tsetse fly.
It’s important to note that "sleeping sickness" is now considered an outdated term. The disease is typically referred to as African Trypanosomiasis or simply "sleeping sickness" in some regions.
Similar spelling words for SLEEPING SICKNESS
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
