Treatment of Rhodesiense Human African Trypanosomiasis in Children Aged Under 6 Years or Under 20 kg with CNS Involvement
Clinical scenario
This protocol covers rhodesiense human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) in patients aged under 6 years or with a body weight under 20 kg who have evidence of central nervous system involvement — a CSF white blood cell count above 5 cells/µL or trypanosomes detected in cerebrospinal fluid.
Defining conditions
The protocol applies when all of the following are present: confirmed rhodesiense HAT, age under 6 years or body weight under 20 kg, and CSF WBC > 5/µL or trypanosomes in CSF. This combination — paediatric weight/age group with CNS-stage disease — is the specific criteria that determines which first-line treatment is appropriate.
Treatment approach partial preview
The first-line approach for this scenario involves intravenous anti-trypanosomal therapy given over a defined course, with concomitant oral corticosteroid support. The complete dosing schedule, duration, and tapering details are available in the full structured regimen.
References
- Melarsoprol is the first-choice treatment in patients aged < 6 years or body weight < 20 kg presenting with > 5 WBC/µL or trypanosomes in CSF.
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