Clinical epidemiological characteristics of mycetoma in Eastern Sennar locality, Sennar State, Sudan

Abstract

Mycetoma epidemiological features remain uncharacterised. Few studies have been conducted in a community-based setting to explore the epidemiological features and risk factors for mycetoma in Sudan. To bridge this gap, this study was conducted in Eastern Sennar Locality, Sennar State, Sudan, to report the clinical, epidemiological characteristics of mycetoma patients and the disease burden in the state. We used cluster sampling; sixty villages were randomly selected across the locality’s five administrative units, and a household-to-household survey was conducted. We collected data using pre-designed questionnaires at the community, household, and individual levels. We performed descriptive analyses of the data and produced prevalence maps using ArcGIS 10.5 ([ESRI] Inc., Redlands CA, USA). A total of 41,176 individuals were surveyed, and 359 mycetoma patients were identified. The overall prevalence of mycetoma was 0.87% (95%CI = 0.78–0.97%), the prevalence among males was 0.83% (95%CI = 0.71–0.96%), and females 0.92% (95% CI = 0.79–1.06%). Individuals in the age group 31–45 years had the highest prevalence among the different age groups (1.52%, 95% CI = 1.23–1.86%). The prevalence map showed patients clustered within the central and north-eastern part of the locality, while villages in the south-western part had few or no cases. In conclusion, this clinical epidemiological study is pioneering and shows that mycetoma is prevalent in certain parts of Sudan. This data obtained will support the design of measures to reduce the disease burden in the state. The survey procedures and protocols can be adopted for further studies in Sudan and beyond.

Role of socioeconomic factors in developing mycetoma: Results from a household survey in Sennar State, Sudan

“…The current study (see also the accompanying paper [ 14 ]) presents, to our knowledge, the most comprehensive characterisation of the population affected by mycetoma. In addition to clinical epidemiology data, we provided characteristics of households, economic activities and use of health care services by people with mycetoma.…”

“…A detailed description of the survey is published elsewhere [ 14 ]. Briefly, a cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted in June-July 2019 in the Eastern Sennar locality, Sennar State, Sudan ( Fig 1 ).…”

“…Here we report the results from the cross-sectional population survey conducted alongside spatial mapping across all five highly endemic administrative units of Eastern Sennar Locality, Sennar State, Sudan in 2019 [ 14 ]. The study estimated the overall prevalence of mycetoma to be 0.87% with cases clustered within the central and north-eastern part of the locality.…”

“…The study estimated the overall prevalence of mycetoma to be 0.87% with cases clustered within the central and north-eastern part of the locality. The prevalence was highest in the 31–54 years old, and illiteracy, being married and having a history of skin trauma and thorn pricks were associated with mycetoma [ 14 ].…”

SWOT Analysis of Communicable Disease Surveillance in Sudan

“…This siloed approach contradicts the imperative for rapid and comprehensive epidemic surveillance for disease control leaving minimal funding/resources or interest in other epidemic-prone diseases. Another example would be the Mycetoma disease, as it has attracted considerable interest and investment from both local and international stakeholders, despite the absence of a surveillance system to detect such a chronic disease, which has a prevalence of nearly 87 per 10,000 population (33).…”