Medical Dictionary
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
(slē'pĭng) Pronunciation Key
