Complications in African trypanosomiasis: pneumonia

This sleeping young mother has the gambiense form of HAT, complicated by intercurrent infection with pneumonia. Note the drip inserted into the back of her left hand (for the delivery of intravenous fluids and drugs), and the nasogastric tube (for the delivery of foods). Her child is asleep at the foot of her bed in a hospital ward in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. HAT is often associated with intercurrent infections, such as bronchopneumonia. These problems can significantly complicate the clinical picture. They may mask symptoms, make the delivery and monitoring of treatment more difficult, and aggravate or reduce the success of treatment/cure.