College of Medicine, University of Malawi and Medical Association of Malawi
Abstract
In 2002, we identified 28 people in Nkhotakota District who were
suffering from Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT). Sixteen of these
were identified when they presented to the District Hospital with a
febrile illness. The remaining twelve were identified through a rural
cross-sectional survey, in which 500 people were visited in their
homes, persons found to be febrile, were examined by blood film
microscopy. Of the 28 people, 50% (14) presented within a month of the
onset of symptoms. Sixteen (57%) had splenomegaly, and 24 were anaemic
([Hb] <12 g/dl). Four patients died (14%), of which two were in the
late stage of the disease. None of the patients recall having a chancre
that could be attributed to the bite of tsetse flies. 9 out of 28 (32%)
reported illness longer than 90 days. Of the 9 patients 6 (66%) of them
remained in the early stage after reporting illness of 180 days. This
study reports on the prevalence and clinical features of Trypanosoma
brucei rhodesiense infection in a endemic district in Malawi
