Transverse myelitis due to trypanosomiasis in a middle aged Tanzanian man.
case_report · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 16614036.
- Also identified by PMC identifier 2117437.
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Abstract
We report the case of a middle aged Tanzanian man who developed a spinal cord syndrome over 6 weeks, along with a mild encephalopathy. Investigations ruled out the usual major causes of such a syndrome in our setting in northern Tanzania. Examination of his cerebrospinal fluid revealed trypanosomes, and he made a slow but dramatic improvement after a full course of suramine and melarsoprol. We postulate that he had a transverse myelitis due to African trypanosomiasis, a rare and barely recognised cause.
Medical subject headings
- Developing Countries
- Myelitis, Transverse
- Trypanosomiasis, African