infections
African Sleeping Sickness
Treatment of African Sleeping Sickness
Medications that are effective against these protozoa Treatment of African sleeping sickness is guided by species and stage of disease. Sleeping sickness should be treated as soon as possible with medications that are effective against these infections. However, some of the medications can have serious side effects. The medication used depends on which species (gambienseorrhodesiense) is causing the infection and whether the infection has spread to the brain and cerebrospinal fluid. If the infection has not spread to the brain and cerebrospinal fluid,effective medications include Forrhodesiense, suramin Forgambiense,fexinidazoleor, alternatively,pentamidine Fexinidazoleis an oral medication that is the first choice forgambienseinfection that is not severe, with or without brain and cerebrospinal fluid involvement. If the infection has spread to the brain and cerebrospinal fluid,effective medications include For nonseveregambiense,fexinidazole For severegambiense,eflornithine, alone or in combination withnifurtimox, or melarsoprol (ifeflornithineis not available) Forrhodesiense, melarsoprol Melarsoprol can have serious, sometimes life-threatening side effects, but in many African countries, it is often the only medication available for sleeping sickness that affects the brain and cerebrospinal fluid. Corticosteroids may be given to reduce the risk of some of these side effects. There is no test available to confirm that a person has been cured. Therefore, after treatment, doctors monitor people for 24 months, and, if symptoms recur, they obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid to check for parasites. 