sleepy sickness

encephalitis le·thar·gi·ca   (lə-thär'jĭ-kə)    n.  A viral epidemic encephalitis marked by apathy, paralysis of the extrinsic eye muscle, and extreme muscular weakness. It occurred in various parts of the world between 1915 and 1926. Also called sleeping sickness, sleepy sickness. [New Latin encephalītis lēthargica : encephalītis, encephalitis + Latin lēthargica, feminine of lēthargicus, sleepy.]

Main Entry: sleeping sickness
Function: noun
1 : a serious disease that is prevalent in much of tropical Africa, is marked by fever, protracted lethargy, tremors,and loss of weight, is caused by either of two trypanosomes (Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense), and is transmitted by tsetse flies called also African sleepingsickness
2 : any of various viral encephalitides or encephalomyelitides of which lethargy or somnolence is a prominent feature; especially : EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS

sleeping sickness n.
See encephalitis lethargica.

sleeping sickness   (slē'pĭng)  Pronunciation Key  An often fatal protozoan infection prevalent in tropical Africa, caused by either of two trypanosomes spread by the bite of the tsetse fly and characterized by fever and extreme lethargy. Encephalitis that is caused by any of various viruses and is characterized by lethargy and extreme muscular weakness.