Parasitic disease due to Trypanosoma Brucei protozoa. Also see African Trypanosomiasis, Parasites Trypanosoma Brucei, and Trypanosomiasis.Encyclopedia Entry for Sleeping Sickness :Sleeping sickness- viral encephalitis - Mumps virus, Human Herpes virus 1, any of 350 different Arboviruses, Poxvirus, Enteroviruses (polio, Coxsackie, ECHO), Adenoviruses, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (retrovirus)Encyclopedia Entry for Sleeping Sickness :Sleeping sickness. Sleeping sickness is caused by two types of parasites Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Trypanosomoa brucei gambiense. T b rhodesiense causes the more severe form of the illness. Tsetse flies carry the infection. When an infected fly bites you, the infection spreads through your blood. Risk factors include living in parts of Africa where the disease is found and being bitten by tsetse flies. The disease does not occur in the United States, but travelers who have visited or lived in Africa can be infected.General symptoms include: Mood changes , anxiety Fever, sweating Headache Weakness Insomnia at night Sleepiness during the day (may be uncontrollable) Swollen lymph nodes all over the body Swollen, red, painful nodule at site of the fly bite.Diagnosis is often based on a physical examination and detailed information about the symptoms. If the health care provider suspects sleeping sickness, you'll be asked about recent travel. Blood tests will be ordered to confirm the diagnosis. Tests include the following: Blood smear to check for parasites Cerebrospinal fluid tests (fluid from your spinal cord) Complete blood count (CBC) Lymph node aspiration.Medicines used to treat this disorder include: Eflornithine (for T b gambiense only) Melarsoprol Pentamidine (for T b gambiense only) Suramin (Antrypol) Some people may receive a combination of these medicines.Without treatment, death can occur within 6 months from cardiac failure or from T b rhodesiense infection itself. T b gambiense infection causes sleeping sickness disease and gets worse quickly, often over a few weeks. The disease needs to be treated immediately.Complications include: Injury related to falling asleep while driving or during other activities Gradual damage to the nervous system Uncontrollable sleep as the disease gets worse Coma.See your provider right away if you have symptoms, especially if you've traveled to places where the disease is common. It is important to begin treatment as soon as possible.Pentamidine injections protect against T b gambiense, but not against T b rhodesiense. Because this medicine is toxic, using it for prevention is not recommended. T b rhodesiense is treated with suranim. Insect control measures can help prevent the spread of sleeping sickness in high-risk areas.Parasite infection - human African trypanosomiasis.Bogitsh BJ, Carter CE, Oeltmann TN. Blood and tissue protozoa I: hemoflagellates.