You may develop swollen lymph nodes on the back of your neck called Winterbottom's sign. As the illness progresses, weight loss is common. Personality changes, irritability, loss of concentration, progressive confusion, slurred speech, seizures, and difficulty in walking and talking can occur when infection has invaded the central nervous system. The pattern of sleep can change, with sleepiness during the day and insomnia at night. If left untreated, infection becomes worse and death will occur within several months to years after infection.
Symptoms occur within months to years after infection.
There is neither a vaccine nor recommended drug available to prevent West African trypanosomiasis. See your health care provider who will order several tests to look for the parasite. Common tests include blood samples and a spinal tap. Your physician may also take a sample of fluid from swollen lymph nodes. Treatment should be started as soon as possible and is based on the infected person's symptoms and laboratory results.