African trypanosomiasis physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

Physical examination findings of African trypanosomiasis depend on the stage of the disease. Skin lesions are more prominent in stage 1 and neurological findings such as altered level of consciousness and hemiparesis predominate in stage 2.

Physical examination findings of African trypanosomiasis depend on the stage of the disease. Skin lesions are more prominent in stage 1 and neurological findings such as altered level of consciousness and hemiparesis predominate in stage 2.^[1]

Examination findings	African trypanosomiasis physical examination
Appearance of the patient	Drowsy Fatigue or tired
Vital Signs	Fever Bradycardia Weight loss
Skin	Chancre at bite site Maculopapular rash
HEENT	Normal
Neck	Cervical lymphadenopathy is more common in the West African trypanosomiasis Positive Winterbottom’s sign
Lymph node	Axillary and inguinal lymphadenopathy are more common in East African trypanosomiasis
Lungs	Normal bilateral vesicular breath sounds
Heart	S1, S2 normal, no murmurs or gallops heard
Abdomen	Hepatosplenomegaly (West African sleeping sickness) Abdominal tenderness
CNS	Irritability Tremors Increased muscle rigidity and tonicity Ataxia Hemiparesis
Musculoskeletal	Myalgias Arthralgias Positive Kerandel sign (delayed sensitivity to pain)
Extremities	Edema

↑ Odiit M, Kansiime F, Enyaru JC (1997). “Duration of symptoms and case fatality of sleeping sickness caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in Tororo, Uganda”. East Afr Med J. 74 (12): 792–5. PMID 9557424.