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Step 1
Manage the acute symptoms of fatigue and fever and monitor the patient's neurologic status closely. Prevent aspiration by managing the airway if the central nervous system symptoms are severe.
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Step 2
Consult an infectious disease specialist in the case of a symptomatic patient with suspicious recent travel or parasite exposure. The Center for Disease Control also should be contacted for expertise in treatment in the United States; Human African Trypanosomaisis is rarely encountered outside of Africa.
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Step 3
Administer medication for East African Trypanosomiasis. Suramin or eflornithine should be given for the hemolymphatic stage with melarsoprol for the neurologic stage.
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Step 4
Provide treatment for West African Trypanosomiasis. Eflornithine, Pentamidine or Suramin are given for the hemolymphatic stage with eflornithine preferred for the neurologic stage.
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Step 5
Transfer the patient to an intensive care unit if late-stage complications such as a coma occur. Administer treatment and monitor the patient's hematologic, hepatic and renal functions for adverse side effects of drugs.
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Step 6
Perform lumbar punctures for patients recovered from late-stage disease. A relapse may be indicated if the cerebral spinal fluid shows a white blood cell count greater than 20/mm^3 or trypanosomes are still present.
