It may take days or even several weeks for a patient to fully recover, which always happens. Get informed locally about the sandfly situation and, if at all possible, avoid areas infested with them. Female sand flies feed at night and always at ground level, meaning sleeping above the ground provides reasonable protection. Ordinary mosquito nets are useless because an unfed fly can pass through the mesh squares. If possible spray the environment with an insecticide and always apply a good insect repellent to exposed skin.
Treatment is entirely symptomatic.
As the name suggests, it's a disease which is endemic to certain parts of Africa below the Sahara. It's a very serious disease with a high fatality rate but luckily it's of little concern to travellers. Protozoan parasites of the Trypanosoma genus. The West African form is a chronic infection, with symptoms appearing 6 months or even some years after being bitten. The East African form is an acute infection, with symptoms showing after only two to three weeks.