Multiorgan Dysfunction Caused by Travel-associated African Trypanosomiasis - Vol. 18 No. 2 - February 2012 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal - CDC

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Multiorgan Dysfunction Caused by Travel-associated African Trypanosomiasis - Vol. 18 No. 2 - February 2012 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal - CDC

Volume 18, Number 2—February 2012

Dispatch

Multiorgan Dysfunction Caused by Travel-associated African Trypanosomiasis

Article Contents

• The Case-Patient
• Conclusions
• Acknowledgment
• References
• Figure
• Video
• Table 1
• Table 2
• Suggested Citation

Lucy E. Cottle , Joanna R. Peters¹, Alison Hall, J. Wendi Bailey, Harry A. Noyes, Jane E. Rimington, Nicholas J. Beeching, S. Bertel Squire, and Mike B.J. Beadsworth

Author affiliations: Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK (L.E. Cottle, J.R. Peters, A. Hall, N.J. Beeching, S.B. Squire, M.B.J. Beadsworth); Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool (J.W. Bailey, N.J. Beeching, S.B. Squire, M.B.J. Beadsworth); University of Liverpool, Liverpool (H.A. Noyes); Hawkshead Medical Practice, Ambleside, UK (J.E. Rimington)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract

We describe a case of multiorgan dysfunction secondary to Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infection acquired on safari in Zambia. This case was one of several recently reported to ProMED-mail in persons who had traveled to this region. Trypanosomiasis remains rare in travelers but should be considered in febrile patients who have returned from trypanosomiasis-endemic areas of Africa.

We describe a British safari tourist with multi-organ dysfunction and shock secondary to African trypanosomiasis. This case illustrates the complications associated with treatment of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infection and highlights a recent increase in cases reported to ProMED (www.promedmail.org) of trypanosomiasis in travelers to Zambia.