Leishmaniasis
The causative agents of leishmaniasis are transmitted via the so-called sand fly and lead to different disease symptoms depending on the subtype of the pathogen. The subtype, which affects the skin, leads to bumps all over the body, which heal within a year, forming a scar. The so-called visceral subtype, leads to an infestation of the internal organs and is usually fatal if left untreated.
The third subtype affects the mucous membranes, which mainly affects the throat and the windpipe. Depending on the subtype, treatment is carried out with various drugs, such as antimony or paromomycin. There is no vaccination against leishmaniasis.
Leprosy
The tropical disease leprosy, known for many centuries, is transmitted by a certain type of bacteria. The bacteria are transmitted from person to person via fluids, for example from wounds. The disease mainly affects the skin and leads to varying degrees of skin wounds, discoloration and knot formation.
In addition, there is a loss of perception of the injuries by the nerves. If the severity of the injury is high, it often leads to mutilation of the limbs. But other organs, such as the liver or bones, can also be affected. The therapy includes the drugs dapsone, rifampicin and, if necessary, clofazimine.
Sleeping sickness
Sleeping sickness, also known as African trypanosomiasis, occurs, as the name suggests, mainly in Africa. The pathogens are transmitted via the so-called tsetse fly and, depending on the region, lead to a West and an East African form of the disease. In both cases, the symptoms initially include skin changes and swelling of the lymph nodes.
Later, an inflammation of the meninges, a meningoencephalitis, occurs, which leads to the sleep disorders typical of the disease. These can lead to coma. Early therapy with medication is very important, otherwise the disease is fatal.
Chagas disease
The Chagas disease, which is also called the American Trypanosomiasis, occurs according to the name above all in Central and South America. The pathogen is mainly transmitted to humans by bugs and causes symptoms in only about a quarter of all infected persons. Initially, these include skin changes with swelling, fever and diarrhea. Later on, in addition to infestation of the gastrointestinal tract, there is a pronounced disease of the heart with cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure. Since the drug therapy of Chagas’ disease is only effective to a limited extent, it is very important to protect oneself against the transmission of the pathogens.
