Human African Trypanosomiasis Encephalitis in the United States: Serial Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Citation: The Neurohospitalist. 6(4):170-173, 2016 OctPMID: 27695600Institution: MedStar Washington Hospital CenterDepartment: Medicine/Infectious Diseases | NeurologyForm of publication: Journal ArticleMedline article type(s): Journal ArticleSubject headings: PubMed-not-MEDLINE -- Not indexedYear: 2016ISSN:- 1941-8744
Item type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode |
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Journal Article | MedStar Authors Catalog | Article | 27695600 | Available | 27695600 |
It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) in order to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. A 36-year-old man developed encephalitis caused by HAT. This encephalitis can appear many years after well-tolerated systemic infection. The neurologic manifestations developed 7 years after he had emigrated from Cameroon to the United States. We demonstrate the magnetic resonance imaging before, during, and after his treatment with intravenous eflornithine. Clinical signs and symptoms of HAT can be nonspecific and precede abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging. Human African trypanosomiasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who have lived in sub-Saharan Africa and have a clinical presentation of subacute encephalitis.
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