Sleeping Sickness: From 4 Different Sources
A serious infectious disease of tropical Africa caused by the protozoan parasite TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI, which is transmitted to humans by the bites of tsetse flies.
One form of the disease, which occurs in West and Central Africa, takes a slow course, with bouts of fever and lymph node enlargement. After months or years, spread to the brain occurs, causing headaches, confusion, and, eventually, severe lassitude. Without treatment, coma and death follow. The other, East African, form runs a faster course. Fever develops after a few weeks of infection, and effects on the heart may be fatal before the disease has spread to the brain.
Drugs can effect a cure, but there may be residual brain damage if the infection has already spread to the brain.
There are two major forms of the disease: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense is con?ned to west and central Africa, and T.b. rhodesiense to central, east, and south-east Africa. The infection is caused by the bite of tsetse ?y (Glossina spp.). Clinically, a trypanosomal CHANCRE may develop at the site of the tsetse-?y bite. After introduction into the bloodstream, the parasite develops in blood and lymphatic glands. After the blood stage, it enters the central nervous system, causing characteristic neurological sequelae (see below). Infection may be followed by a generalised macular papular reaction. In
T.b. gambiense infection, enlarged glands in the neck (Winterbottom’s sign) may be striking. Onset of disease is accompanied by fever, progressive ANAEMIA, and enlarged glands; these signs and symptoms are followed by increasing lethargy, slowing of mentality, and physical weakness, and give way to headache and an increasing tendency to sleep. These symptoms are caused by proliferation of parasites in the patient’s cerebral blood vessels; this is accompanied by in?ammatory changes and disorganisation of nervous tissue. Patients become emaciated and develop bed sores. Death ?nally takes place either as a result of gross emaciation or of an intercurrent infection.
Diagnosis is by detection of trypanosomes in a blood specimen or, alternatively, a sample of cerebrospinal ?uid. Serological tests are of great value in diagnosis.
Treatment is with suramine or pentamidine; when cerebral involvement has ensued, melarsoprol – which penetrates the blood-brain barrier – is of value. In T.b. gambiense infection, e?ornithine has recently given encouraging results; however, this form of CHEMOTHERAPY is not e?ective in a T.b. rhodesiense infection. From the point of view of prevention, control of the tsetse-?y population is crucial; even so, only a very small percentage of these vectors is infected with Trypanosoma spp.
A disease caused by haemoflagellate protozoa and transmitted by blood-feeding tsetse flies of the genus Glossina. East African (Rhodesian) Sleeping Sickness is the more severe zoonotic form caused byTrypanosoma brucei rhodesiense found on the game-rich savannahs of East Central Africa while West African (Gambian) Sleeping Sickness is the more chronic form found in riverine areas of West Central Africa and which has a significant human reservoir although animals such as pigs may also be involved as reservoirs.
(African trypanosomiasis) a disease of tropical Africa caused by the presence in the blood of the parasitic protozoans *Trypanosoma gambiense or T. rhodesiense. The parasites are transmitted through the bite of *tsetse flies. Initial symptoms include fever, headache, and chills, followed later by enlargement of the lymph nodes, anaemia, and pains in the limbs and joints. After a period of several months or even years, the parasites invade the minute blood vessels supplying the central nervous system. This causes drowsiness and lethargy, and ultimately – if untreated – the patient dies. Rhodesian sleeping sickness is the more virulent form of the disease. Drugs used to treat the acute stage of the disease include eflornithine, pentamidine, and suramin; melarsoprol (a drug containing arsenic) is used after the brain is affected. Eradication of tsetse flies helps prevent spread of the infection.
This condition, also known as mountain sickness, occurs in mountain climbers or hikers who have climbed too quickly to heights above 3,000 metres, thus failing to allow their bodies to acclimatise to altitude. The lower atmospheric pressure and shortage of oxygen result in hyperventilation – deep, quick breathing – and this reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood. Nausea, anxiety and exhaustion are presenting symptoms, and seriously affected individuals may be acutely breathless because of pulmonary oedema (excess ?uid in the lungs). Gradual climbing over two or three days should prevent mountain sickness. In serious cases the individual must be brought down to hospital urgently. Most attacks, however, are mild.... altitude sickness
A complex systemic reaction that may become evident any time up to 14 days after antivenom or antitoxin use. Symptoms are fever, generalised lymphadenopathy and an urticarial rash. Severe cases of serum sickness may have to be treated with oral steroids. The incidence of serum sickness is often related to the amount of antivenom used.... serum sickness
See ALTITUDE SICKNESS.... mountain sickness
The term applied to the nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite which may follow exposure to RADIATION – for example, at work – or the use of RADIOTHERAPY in the treatment of cancer and other diseases. People exposed to radiation at work should have that exposure carefully monitored so it does not exceed safety limits. Doses of radiation given during radiotherapy treatment are carefully measured: even so, patients may suffer side-effects. The phenothiazine group of tranquillisers, such as CHLORPROMAZINE, as well as the ANTIHISTAMINE DRUGS, are of value in the prevention and treatment of radiation sickness.... radiation sickness
This condition is very similar to sea-sickness. (See MOTION (TRAVEL) SICKNESS.)... air-sickness
An old name for EPILEPSY.... falling sickness
See MOTION (TRAVEL) SICKNESS.... sea-sickness
See VOMITING; MOTION (TRAVEL) SICKNESS.... sickness
See motion sickness.... car sickness
Morning Sickness is not particularly a disease, but a symptom of pregnancy.
If you feel that the room is spinning around and that all scents are too strong, it is possible that you’re pregnant.
However, morning sickness usually consists of vomiting, nausea, headaches, back pains and, at times, fever.
This affection looks a lot like food intoxication. But just to be sure, schedule an appointment with your gynecologist.
How Tea for Morning Sickness Works
A Tea for Morning Sickness’ main goal is to ameliorate your weakness and restore your general health. Thanks to the active ingredients in these teas, your abdominal muscles will stop their negative response, while nourishing the nervous system.
Also, morning sickness has a lot to do with your hormones, so you may want to try a tea with an elevated estrogen level or at least one that could stop your hormone level from growing.
Efficient Tea for Morning Sickness
In order to be efficient, a Tea for Morning Sickness needs to have the right amount of nutrients, enzymes, volatile oils and minerals (a tea rich in manganese, iron, magnesium is the best choice for your condition).
You may want to avoid the ones with a high acids level, since they cause stomach acidity and, at times, even uterine contractions which might lead to miscarriage. If you don’t know which teas are best for your problem, here’s a list to help you out:
- Peppermint Tea – this Tea for Morning Sickness is well known as a stomach soothing decoction, with various uses which spread on many areas of interest, from cosmetic industry to pharmaceutical remedies. This tea could lower your hormone level and induce a state of calmness to your abdominal area. You can also use it to treat diarrhea, sore throats, nausea and even headaches. Peppermint Tea is one hundred percent safe and you can take as much as you want.
- Ginger Tea – although Ginger Tea is a great nausea reliever, practitioners around the world are concerned when it comes to administrating it to pregnant women. Even if this Tea for Morning Sickness is very efficient for nausea, using too much herb will cause uterine contractions due to its acid compounds. The best thing you can do is ask your doctor’s advice before taking this tea.
- Raspberry Leaf Tea – also a great remedy for infertility, anemia, asthenia and other problems, this tea has a sweet taste and a pleasant smell. Practitioners around the world have discovered that this Tea for Morning Sickness could take your pain away in no time thanks to its active constituents, which include tannins, manganese and iron. And let’s not forget the vitamin C, which will energize your entire body.
Tea for Morning Sickness Side Effects
When taken properly, these teas are generally safe. However, exceeding the number of cups recommended per day may lead to other affection such as constipation, migraines or stomach irritations.
Talk to an herbalist or to your doctor before starting any kind of herbal treatment and make sure that everything will be ok. However, if you’ve been taking one of these teas and you’re noticing some unusual responses from your body, ask for medical assistance immediately!
If you have the medical approval and there’s nothing that could interfere with your treatment, choose a Tea for Morning Sickness that fits best your needs and give it a try!... tea for morning sickness
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