China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Dermoscopy in General Dermatology
Published in Ashfaq A Marghoob, Ralph Braun, Natalia Jaimes, Atlas of Dermoscopy, 2023
Iris Zalaudek, Nicola di Meo, Paola Corneli
Tungiasis is an infectious disease caused by the flea Tunga penetrans, which lives in humid sand contaminated by feces of pigs and cows. The parasite penetrates the epidermis, causing reactive hyperplasia and subsequent light brown itchy papules that are typically seen on the soles and the periungueal area.22Dermoscopic examination shows a central pigmented ring with a central pore and an eccentric gray-bluish blotch over a whitish background.23,24
Infections and infestations of nail unit
Published in Archana Singal, Shekhar Neema, Piyush Kumar, Nail Disorders, 2019
Vineet Relhan, Vikrant Choubey
Tungiasis is caused by the sand flea Tungapenetrans that is usually found in the soil near cattle sheds and pigsties. The infestation is common in tropics and subtropical areas including South America, Africa, India, and Pakistan. The causative flea is a female, which penetrates the skin and burrows into the dermis. Later a nodule with a central punctum covered with hemorrhagic crust develops at the site of infestation. Although the presentation is usually limited to a single lesion, multiple such lesions in a cluster are common when treatment is delayed. Common sites include web spaces and periungual skin of toes, soles, and heels. The lesions are associated with intense pruritus and frank inflammation painful enough to hinder walking. Long-term sequelae include deformity of digits, secondary infection, paronychia, and nail dystrophy.40,41 Diagnosis is usually evident, based on the clinical picture and natural history of the disease. Currently there are no drugs with proven efficacy in the treatment of tungiasis. Oral ivermectin has been tried and reported to be useful, but an RCT found it comparable to placebo.42 Surgical removal of the fleas and their eggs is the preferred standard of care. However, care should be taken not to leave behind any fragments of the flea inside the lesions, otherwise severe inflammatory reaction ensues.
Bacterial and parasitic infections
Published in Aimilios Lallas, Enzo Errichetti, Dimitrios Ioannides, Dermoscopy in General Dermatology, 2018
Ignacio Gómez Martín, Balachandra Suryakant Ankad, Enzo Errichetti, Aimilios Lallas, Dimitrios Ioannides, Pedro Zaballos
Tungiasis is an endemic skin infestation caused by the burrowing flea, Tunga penetrans.34–39 This parasite is mainly distributed in the tropical regions of South and Central America, the Caribbean Islands, Africa, Pakistan, and India.34–39
Epidemiology of tungiasis in sub-saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Published in Pathogens and Global Health, 2020
Oluwasola O. Obebe, Olufemi O. Aluko
Tungiasis is a public health skin disease prevalent in many rural and urban slums and caused by the female sand fleas, Tunga penetrans [1,2]. Tungiasis is a zoonosis and affects humans and animals alike in disadvantaged communities in the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and South America, primarily affecting children and the elderly [3–5]. Tunga penetrans, the causative organism of tungiasis attack mostly the periungual region of children and the elderly, although, infection of the elbows, hands, and genital areas have been reported [6]. Mud or earthen housing materials, poor hygiene behavior, rearing of domestic animals (such as pigs, dogs, and cats) and walking barefoot, have been associated with jigger infection [7,8]. The acute stage of tungiasis is characterized by itching, swelling, deep fissures, ulcers, and abscess development as a result of bacterial superinfection, while the chronic form may be accompanied by protracted pain, deformity, damage to the feet and disability [6,9,10]. Despite the considerable magnitude of the disease, it is widely overlooked by the academic community, health care practitioners, public health experts, decision-makers, funding organizations, and pharmaceutical companies. A prevalence of 80% and up to 60% in children and the general population, respectively has been reported around the world [11]. A point prevalence of between 16–54% has also been reported in low socio-economic prone communities in Latin America, the Caribbean, and sub-saharan African countries [1,5]. The prevalence of tungiasis in the human population has been studied sporadically in SSA [12–18]. However, to the best of our knowledge, no comprehensive study has been conducted on tungiasis in SSA; hence we present the outcome of a systematic review and meta-analysis of the epidemiology of tungiasis in SSA.