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. 2008;2(12):e333.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000333. Epub 2008 Dec 23.

The burden of human African trypanosomiasis

Eric M Fèvre  1 , Beatrix V Wissmann, Susan C Welburn, Pascal Lutumba
Affiliations

The burden of human African trypanosomiasis

Eric M Fèvre et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2008.

Abstract

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT, or sleeping sickness) is a protozoan parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense or Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. These are neglected tropical diseases, and T.b. rhodesiense HAT is a zoonosis. We review current knowledge on the burden of HAT in sub-Saharan Africa, with an emphasis on the disability-adjusted life year (DALY), data sources, and methodological issues relating to the use of this metric for assessing the burden of this disease. We highlight areas where data are lacking to properly quantify the impact of these diseases, mainly relating to quantifying under-reporting and disability associated with infection, and challenge the HAT research community to tackle the neglect in data gathering to enable better evidence-based assessments of burden using DALYs or other appropriate measures.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no financial, personal, or professional interests that could be construed to have influenced this paper. PL is the Head of research at the National Control Programme against HAT in DRC.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Map of Sleeping Sickness.
Image credit: .
Figure 2
Figure 2. Child with Resolved Exfoliative Dermatitis (Epidermal Necrolysis) Resulting from Early Stage T.b. rhodesiense HAT Treatment with Suramin.
The acute stage of this condition presents with blistering and the peeling off of large areas of skin; complications due to secondary infection are likely. Image credit: Eric Fèvre.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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