Kuru pp

The presymptomatic phase of kuru lasts, on average, 10 to 13 years but incubation time can range from 5 years to 50 years (Collinge et al., 2008). Mean clinical duration of the disease is 12 months with a range of 3 months to 2 years (Collinge et al., 2008). Kuru infection presents itself in three progressive stages: ambulatory, sedentary, and terminal (Alpers, 2005). The primary physical symptom of the disease, cerebellar ataxia, worsens as the disease advances through these three stages(Gajdusek, 1957). In the ambulatory phase, patients demonstrate a loss of muscular coordination though they are still capable of speaking and moving around (Gajdusek, 1957). In the sedentary stage, infected individuals show stronger ataxia that manifests as major dysarthria, frequent, excessive bursts of laughter and the impossibility of unassisted movement (Gajdusek, 1957). At the terminal stage, infected individuals can no longer sit without support, the ability to speak is lost, urinary and fecal incontinence is common, dysphagia begins, and many develop ulcerated wounds that are prone to infection (Gajdusek, 1957). Death occurs shortly thereafter either due to wound infection or terminal static bronchopneumonia (Gajdusek, 1957).