Very severe tungiasis in Amerindians in the Amazon lowland of Colombia: A case series.

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ID: 18574
2019
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Abstract
Tungiasis is a parasitic skin disease caused by penetrating female sand fleas. By nature, tungiasis is a self-limiting infection. However, in endemic settings re-infection is the rule and parasite load gradually accumulates over time. Intensity of infection and degree of morbidity are closely related.This case series describes the medical history, the clinical pathology, the socio-economic and the environmental characteristics of very severe tungiasis in five patients living in traditional Amerindian communities in the Amazon lowland of Colombia. Patients had between 400 and 1,300 penetrated sand fleas. The feet were predominantly affected, but clusters of embedded sand fleas also occurred at the ankles, the knees, the elbows, the hands, the fingers and around the anus. The patients were partially or totally immobile. Patients 1 and 3 were cachectic, patient 2 presented severe malnutrition. Patient 3 needed a blood transfusion due to severe anemia. All patients showed a characteristic pattern of pre-existing medical conditions and culture-dependent behavior facilitating continuous re-infection. In all cases intradomiciliary transmission was very likely.Although completely ignored in the literature, very severe tungiasis occurs in settings where patients do not have access to health care and are stricken in a web of pre-existing illness, poverty and neglect. If not treated, very severe tungiasis may end in a fatal disease course.
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miller2019veryplos Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Miller, Hollman;Ocampo, Jovana;Ayala, Alvaro;Trujillo, Julian;Feldmeier, Hermann;
Journal plos neglected tropical diseases
Year 2019
DOI
10.1371/journal.pntd.0007068
URL
Keywords Keywords not found

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