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Tungiasis (sand flea disease): a parasitic disease with particular challenges for public health.
Feldmeier, H; Sentongo, E; Krantz, I.
Afiliação
  • Feldmeier H; Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité Medical School, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 27, 12203 Berlin, Germany. hermann.feldmeier@charite.de
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis ; 32(1): 19-26, 2013 Jan.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22941398
Tungiasis (sand flea disease) is caused by the penetration of females of Tunga penetrans into the skin of the feet. Within 2 weeks of penetration the burrowed flea increases its volume by a factor of 2,000. This is paralleled by intense inflammation of the surrounding tissue. Acute and chronic inflammation leads to the development of painful and debilitating clinical pathology. This results in impaired physical fitness and mobility. The social implications of tungiasis-associated morbidity are multifold. Children with tungiasis are teased and ridiculed, adults feel ashamed and stigmatized. There is anecdotal evidence that tungiasis negatively affects educational achievements. Impaired mobility and physical fitness will have a negative impact on household economics. Sand flea disease is common in resource-poor communities in South America and in sub-Saharan Africa with prevalence in the general population of up to 60%. In East Africa, it has re-emerged in epidemic dimensions in recent years. Hitherto, no effective drug treatment has been at hand. Traditional treatment, i.e., the manipulation of burrowed sand fleas with blunt and inappropriate instruments may facilitate the transmission of blood-derived pathogens. Prevention is feasible through regular application of a repellent based on coconut oil. Owing to its strong association with poverty, sand flea disease would be an excellent starting point for a community-based fight against rural poverty.
Assuntos

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Administração em Saúde Pública / Tunga / Tungíase Tipo de estudo: Risk_factors_studies Limite: Animals / Humans País/Região como assunto: Africa / America do sul Idioma: En Revista: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Assunto da revista: DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS / MICROBIOLOGIA Ano de publicação: 2013 Tipo de documento: Article País de afiliação: Alemanha País de publicação: Alemanha

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Administração em Saúde Pública / Tunga / Tungíase Tipo de estudo: Risk_factors_studies Limite: Animals / Humans País/Região como assunto: Africa / America do sul Idioma: En Revista: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Assunto da revista: DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS / MICROBIOLOGIA Ano de publicação: 2013 Tipo de documento: Article País de afiliação: Alemanha País de publicação: Alemanha