African sleeping sickness is an infection involving the Trypanosomoa brucei gambiense or Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense organisms. Symptoms of this ailment include drowsiness, anxiety, sweating, mood changes and headache. It can also cause trouble sleeping, swollen lymph nodes, and swelling or redness at the bite site, according to MedlinePlus, an online health encyclopedia from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). There are several treatments that can manage African sleeping sickness.
Eflornithine
Eflornithine is an injectable medication used to treat the African sleeping sickness caused by the Trypanosomoa brucei gambiense organism. According to Drugs.com, eflornithine's common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. Serious effects include abnormal bleeding or bruising, fever, sore throat, weakness and fatigue. In some cases, this drug can cause seizures and a loss of hearing. Pre-existing conditions such as sickle cell anemia, hearing loss and kidney disease can decrease the effectiveness of eflornithine.
Pentamidine
Pentamidine can be used to manage African sleeping sickness as well as a lung infection called Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. MedlinePlus says that pentamidine's common effects include fatigue, cough, dizziness, itching, stomach problems and night sweats. This drug can sometimes cause a poor appetite, lightheadedness and a burning sensation in the throat. Pentamidine's serious effects include chest pain, irregular heartbeat, confusion, slurred speech, shortness of breath and trouble breathing. Antibiotic medications, cisplatin, amphotericin B or foscarnet may lead to drug interactions with pentamidine. Pentamidine can be administered via inhalation or injection.
Suramin
Suramin treats African sleeping sickness and a medical condition called river blindness (onchocerciasis). Specifically, suramin causes a decrease in the parasite's energy. Suramin's common side effects include headache, skin rash, vomiting, fatigue, joint pain and poor appetite. Suramin can also cause weakness of the hands, arms or feet, diarrhea, fainting, swelling of the skin, and tenderness on the palms and soles of the feet. Taking suramin while suffering from liver or kidney disease may decrease suramin's effectiveness.
Suramin is available as an injection, and the dose is determined based on the patient's weight.
