Learning sheet no. 4
Accessed March, 2025
DPDx Laboratory Identification of Parasites of Public Health Concerns
Including Life cycle
Chapter in Clinical guidelines -Diagnosis and Treatment manual
The Global Health Observatory
The Global Health Observatory
The Lancet Infectious Disease Volume 25, Issue 2e77-e85February 2025
The present guidelines incorporate all these changes, leading to a substantial reconfiguration of therapeutic choices for both disease forms.
HAT is a serious, life-threatening disease and the efficacy of fexinidazole depends on swallowing the medicine after an appropriate intake of food as well as... on completing the full 10-day treatment schedule. Therefore, the recommendations regarding fexinidazole administration are considered key elements that must be carefully followed. When the conditions listed in these guidelines are not met for any individual patient, the alternative available treatments should be prescribed.
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Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, is caused by trypanosome parasites that are transmitted by tsetse flies. HAT is found only in sub-Saharan Africa. Two subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei cause disease: T. b. gambiense in West and Central Africa, and T. b. rhodesiense in East A...frica.
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PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 18(5): e0012091. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012091
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 18(4): e0012111. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012111
Guidelines for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis. Web Annex A. Commissioned by WHO Cochrane Response
WHO Guidelines for the Treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis. Web Annex B
The number of reported cases of acute African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). The disease is caused by parasitesthat are spread by tsetse flies and other insects. The disease is typically fatal if not treated.
WHO convened the fifth stakeholders meeting on the elimination of HAT due to infection with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (g-HAT) and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (r-HAT) in Geneva, Switzerland, on 7–9 June 2023. The meeting was held again in person after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandem...ic and jointly for both forms of the disease. The previous meetings on g-HAT held in 2014, 2016 and 2018, as well as on r-HAT in 2015, 2017 and 2019, and jointly for g-HAT and r-HAT in 2021 (8) reinforced the partnership and commitment for HAT elimination and structured the mechanisms of collaboration within the WHO network for HAT elimination. The network includes NSSCPs, groups developing new tools, international and nongovernmental organizations involved in disease control, and donors.
Fewer than 1000 cases of HAT annually have been reported over the past 5 years, which is a historic achievement. The area at risk has been substantially reduced. The elimination of HAT as a public health problem at the global level has been achieved.
The new road map for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) 2021−2030 (“the road map”) with the target to interrupt the transmission of g-HAT requires the strengthened and sustained efforts of all stakeholders, national authorities and partners, under WHO coordination. It will take disproportionally high efforts and innovative strategies to find the last cases of g-HAT and neutralize its transmission. Given the limited resources and other competing public health priorities, this is a challenge that requires our joint commitment.
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