No, Chagas disease and sleeping sickness are not the same, though they are both types of trypanosomiasis, caused by different Trypanosoma parasites, affect different regions (Americas vs. Africa), and have distinct vectors (kissing bugs vs. tsetse flies) and clinical symptoms, despite both impacting the central nervous system. Chagas (American trypanosomiasis) is caused by T. cruzi and sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis) by T. brucei.
Trypanosomiasis is an infection caused by the Trypanosoma parasites. Trypanosomiasis can be found in Africa, commonly known as sleeping sickness, and in Central and South America where it is known as Chagas disease.
Chagas disease (also known as American trypanosomiasis) More than 7 million people worldwide, mostly in Latin America, are estimated to be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease.
Sleeping sickness, also known as human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), is a disease caused by a parasite. You can get the parasite that causes sleeping sickness from the bite of a tsetse fly in sub-Saharan Africa. Sleeping sickness is a serious disease.
Chronic Chagas disease may cause serious or life-threatening complications that affect your heart, brain and digestive tract. You may have to manage these issues for the rest of your life. Chronic Chagas complications include: Arrhythmia.
During the acute phase, some people experience symptoms like fever, tiredness, body aches, headache, rash, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or vomiting. Some people do not notice any symptoms during the acute phase. This can make it difficult to diagnose for Chagas disease.
Our findings suggest that the common bed bug may be a competent vector of T. cruzi and could pose a risk for vector-borne transmission of Chagas disease.
Estimated Number of the Deaths
When left untreated, the mortality rate of African sleeping sickness is close to 100%. It is estimated that 50,000 to 500,000 people die from this disease every year.
Patients with sleeping sickness, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei, have disruptions in both sleep timing and sleep architecture. However, the underlying cause of these sleep disturbances is not well understood.
Melarsoprol (derived from arsenic) is effective against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense but kills 5% of patients from encephalopathy. The combination of nifurtimox and eflornithine (NECT) is effective and recommended for advanced chronic forms of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense.
It is estimated that 6.5 million people, mostly in Mexico, Central America and South America, have Chagas disease as of 2019, resulting in approximately 9,490 annual deaths. Most people with the disease are poor, and most do not realize they are infected.
This stage lasts for the rest of the infected person's life unless they are treated. During this stage, the parasite is hidden deep in organ tissue (especially the heart). The advanced chronic stage is when 30-40% of people with Chagas experience symptoms.
Your healthcare professional does a physical exam, asking about your symptoms and anything that put you at risk of Chagas disease. If you have symptoms of Chagas disease, two or more blood tests can confirm the diagnosis. If you're diagnosed with Chagas disease, you're likely to have more tests.
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is caused by the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted through congenital, oral, and vectorborne routes; vectorborne infections result from contact with the feces of infected triatomine insects (kissing bugs).
Initially, the first stage of the disease is characterized by fevers, headaches, itchiness, and joint pains, beginning one to three weeks after the bite. Weeks to months later, the second stage begins with confusion, poor coordination, numbness, and trouble sleeping.
Encephalitis Lethargica: The Still Unexplained Sleeping Sickness. The encephalitis lethargica epidemic of 1916-1930 is estimated to have affected at least half a million of people in Europe and still remains a mystery.
Chagas disease is often called a silent killer because many people don't realize they have it until complications from the infection kill them.
Symptoms of a pinworm infection can include:
Like many sufferers, Shaq was unaware that he had sleep apnea until his partner told him about his pattern of snoring and gasping for breath. After completing a sleep study and being diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea, Shaq was fitted with a CPAP mask to get a better night's rest.
Malaria Parasite (Plasmodium)
Not only a killer parasite, but one of the world's biggest killers, the malaria parasite is responsible for around 600,000 deaths a year.
WHO changed its treatment guidelines in 2024 to recommend fexinidazole as a first-line treatment for the deadlier strain of the disease, T.b.rhodesiense for anyone above six years of age and 20 kilograms of weight.
Ebola is a severe and often deadly disease caused by a virus. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, bleeding, and often, death. Ebola can occur in humans and other primates (gorillas, monkeys, and chimpanzees).
Do not squish a bed bug as it will release the blood and any pathogens it may be carrying. Resist the urge to scratch the bites. your agency's policy in regards to whether a doctor's order is required.)
Signs and symptoms
A symptom of Chagas disease is Romaña's sign—when the eyelid swells up. This happens when the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite gets into the eyelid, usually by accidentally rubbing the bug feces (poop) into your eye or into a bug bite near your eye.
You may not even be able to see or find these culprits. These stealthy culprits are usually one of five: bed bugs, fleas, chiggers, mosquitoes or spiders. Let's identify what they look like, how to spot their bites and the evidence they leave behind.