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Gambian trypanosomiasis

a chronic disease of humans caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in northern and sub-Saharan Africa from senegal east to Sudan and Uganda; characterised by splenomegaly, drowsiness, an uncontrollable urge to sleep, and the development of psychotic changes; basal ganglia and cerebellar involvement commonly lead to chorea and athetosis; the terminal phase of the disease is characterised by wasting, anorexia, and emaciation that gradually leads to coma and death, usually from intercurrent infection.

Synonym: chronic african sleeping sickness, chronic trypanosomiasis, west african sleeping sickness, west african trypanosomiasis.