Gambian trypanosomiasis

Definition: a chronic disease of humans caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in northern and sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to Sudan and Uganda; characterized by splenomegaly, drowsiness, an uncontrollable urge to sleep, and the development of psychotic changes; basal ganglia and cerebellar involvement commonly lead to chorea and athetosis; the terminal phase of the disease is characterized by wasting, anorexia, and emaciation that gradually leads to coma and death, usually from intercurrent infection.

Synonym(s): chronic African sleeping sickness, chronic trypanosomiasis, gambiense sleeping sickness, West African sleeping sickness, West African trypanosomiasis

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