African Sleeping Sickness: First Stage
African sleeping sickness is a disease that occurs in two stages. The initial stage involves the multiplication of the parasite in the blood and lymph nodes, leading to possible swelling. Although symptoms such as headaches, fever, and joint pain are present, they are often so general that they are not immediately linked to the disease. As a result, the illness can go undiagnosed until it progresses further.
Stage 2: Symptoms of African Sleeping Sickness
As African sleeping sickness progresses, it enters stage 2, where the parasite is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. This stage is characterized by the infiltration of the parasite into the cerebrospinal fluid, leading to inflammation in the meninges, the protective layers of tissue that surround and cushion the spinal cord and brain.
One of the primary symptoms of stage 2 is sleep disturbance, which is why the disease is named as such. Individuals affected by African sleeping sickness may experience changes in their sleep patterns, including difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Along with sleep disturbances, behavioral changes and poor coordination are also common symptoms in this stage.
The duration for progression from stage 1 to stage 2 can vary depending on the species of parasite involved. For those infected with the rhodesiense species, the average time for the onset of stage 2 symptoms is between three and eight weeks. On the other hand, individuals infected with the gambiense species may not exhibit stage 2 symptoms until one to one-and-a-half years later.