Definition & Meaning of "sleeping sickness"

What is "sleeping sickness"?

Sleeping sickness, also known as African trypanosomiasis, is a parasitic disease spread by the bite of infected tsetse flies. The parasites enter the bloodstream and eventually attack the central nervous system, causing neurological symptoms. These can include trouble with the sleep cycle, leading to daytime sleepiness and nighttime insomnia, as well as confusion, poor coordination, and in advanced stages, coma and death if left untreated. Treatment involves medications that target the parasites, but early diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment. Sleeping sickness mainly affects rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, where tsetse flies are common, and control measures focus on reducing the fly population and treating infected individuals to prevent the spread of the disease.