Neurological manifestations of malaria and trypanosomiasis as described by the leaders of the great Central African expeditions

Type of article: ORIGINAL

AUTHOR

M.Balcells
Department of neurology. Hospital Sagrat Cor, Barcelona, Spain.

ABSTRACT

Introduction. This article describes the great Central African expeditions and compares the neurological signs of malaria and African trypanosomiasis with symptoms described by the eminent explorers Stanley, Livingstone, Speke, and Burton.

Methods. We studied explorers' experiences using historical research and their direct accounts.

Results. Some 120 years after the events analysed here took place, malaria is still a major health problem in parts of Central Africa. Although these authors' clinical accounts are very brief, sometimes appearing as mere notes in a diary, they are of great historical interest.

KEYWORDS

Cerebral malaria, African trypanosomiasis, Central African expeditions, history of neurology in the 19th century.

Neurosciences and History 2013;1(2):54-63