Treatment is according to susceptibility. Trypanosomiasis is caused by protozoal parasites, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiene or T b gambiense , transmitted by bite of the tsetse fly. The hemolymphatic stage is characterized by high fevers lasting several days, with symptom-free periods of days to weeks. Less common manifestations of this stage are severe headache, malaise, arthralgia, lymphadenopathy, circinate rash, pruritis, and hepatosplenomegaly. Weight loss and debilitation also occur, and myocarditis may develop.
Treatment is complex and toxic, and depends on the infecting organism and stage of illness.
Among the medications currently in use are suramin, melarsoprol, pentamidine, eflornithine, and corticosteroids. Meningoencephalitis is relatively common worldwide and in some cases occurs as a complication of communicable diseases. Viruses are the most common pathogen, especially enteroviruses, but also arboviruses, herpesviruses, and other pathogens in illnesses including African trypanosomiasis, amebiasis, angiostrongyliasis, candidiasis, Chagas' disease, cryptococcosis, cytomegalovirus, dengue fever, hemorrhagic fevers, herpes, listeria, toxoplasmosis, and others. Young age and immunocompromise increase the risk of meningoencephalitis.