What Is African Sleeping Sickness?
7. Neurological Stage
The next stage of the disease is the neurological stage. At this point, the parasite is able to cross over the blood-brain barrier that would otherwise keep the central nervous system safe. The parasites will infest the spinal fluid and all of the nervous system.
When this takes place, one of the symptoms is that the patient’s sleeping patterns will be disturbed. They will often be unable to sleep at night, but will sleep through the day instead. It is from this symptom that the disease got its name. Other symptoms include poor coordination, confusion, difficulty speaking, and changes in behavior.
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