Late-stage human African trypanosomiasis in a Sudanese refugee.
A 19-year-old Sudanese woman, who had lived for about a decade in Ugandan refugee camps, was referred for investigation of a 12-month history of a generalised rash. Two months later, her condition had deteriorated to include cachexia and drowsiness. Despite initial negative findings on investigation, human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) was suspected, and parasites were found in a double-centrifuged sample of cerebrospinal fluid. Eflornithine, the appropriate drug for treatment of late-stage disease, was obtained through the World Health Organization. This case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties in managing late-stage HAT in a non-endemic country.
Cherian
Paul
P
Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia. pcherian1@hotmail.com
Junckerstorff
Ralph K
RK
Rosen
David
D
Kumarasinghe
Prasad
P
Morling
Alan
A
Tuch
Philip
P
Raven
Sonja
S
Murray
Ronan J
RJ
Heath
Christopher H
CH
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000469:parasitology; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012036:Refugees; D013397:Sudan / Q000208:ethnology; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D055815:Young Adult
D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D000518:Eflornithine