trypanosomiasis
/trɪˌpænəsoʊˈmaɪəsɪs/
Definition
A neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic protozoa, where drug resistance is complicating existing treatment programs.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'trypano-' (borer) and 'soma' (body), referring to the corkscrew-like movement of the parasite, combined with the suffix '-iasis' indicating a pathological condition. It entered medical English in the late 19th century to describe infections caused by trypanosome parasites.
In the news
The article mentions human African trypanosomiasis as an example of a neglected tropical disease where the parasite is evolving resistance to essential medicines. This illustrates the broader, urgent threat of drug-resistant pathogens undermining global health initiatives.
Antimicrobial resistance
Read the full article ↗World Health Organization (WHO)