Trypanosomiasis in a rural hospital in Tanzania. A retrospective study of its management and the results of treatment.

A retrospective analysis was done of the management and the results of treatment in 158 trypanosomiasis patients seen in a rural hospital in Tanzania during 1985. The distribution of cases in the population and during the year reflected an endemic situation. 109 patients (68.9%) were in the meningoencephalitic (ME) stage and 49 (31.1%) in the hematolymphatic (HL) stage of the disease. In total 19 patients (12.0%) died, 17 with ME and 2 with HL trypanosomiasis. Encephalopathy was seen in 19 (17.9%) of 106 patients treated with melarsoprol, and 10 of them died. In 15 (24.4%) of 64 patients who were discharged as HL trypanosomiasis evidence of CNS-involvement was found during follow-up after 3 and/or 9 months.