A case of delayed diagnosis of East-African trypanosomiasis in a Dutch traveller

Abstract

We present a case of East-African trypanosomiasis (EAT) in a 56-year-old Dutch woman returning from holiday in Tanzania and Kenya. The diagnosis was delayed due to the lack of suspicion and secondly because of postponed analysis of blood microscopy after negative rapid malaria antigen testing. Second stage trypanosomiasis was ruled out with liquor analysis. She was treated first with pentamidine and shortly thereafter with suramin, after which she recovered. We emphasize the use of thin/thick smear diagnostics in travellers returning from endemic countries.