Infestation by Tunga penetrans

Zalar, Gregory L.

doi:10.1001/archderm.1980.01640250082023

Cited by 32 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Eggs are oval or, less frequently, round, with a thickened wall and a pale center. A perilesional, inflammatory infiltrate, mainly consisting of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and numerous eosinophils, is also present 8,18,21,25,29,30,33,44,61 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Imported tungiasis: a report of 19 cases and review of the literature

Veraldi

Valsecchi

2007

Int J Dermatology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Tungiasis is an infestation caused by penetration in the skin of the gravid female of the flea Tunga penetrans. In the period 1991-2006, 19 patients with imported tungiasis were observed at our Institute. All patients were subjected to general and dermatological examination, laboratory tests (including bacteriological examinations) and surgical excision of the lesions with histopathological examination. In all patients tetanus prophylaxis was made. All patients were followed up for at least six weeks. Thirteen patients were males (68.4%) and 6 females (31.6%). The age ranged from 3 to 71 years (average age: 37.8 years). Eleven patients (57.9%) contracted the infestation in Central and South America and 8 (42.1%) in Africa. In 17 patients (89.5%) tungiasis was localized to the feet, in one to the hands and in one to a thigh. In 13 patients (68.4%) the infestation was characterized by a single lesion; in the other 6 patients (31.6%) the lesions were two. In 15 patients (78.9%) tungiasis was characterized by a papular or nodular lesion. Crusted (2 patients), pustular (2 patients) and bullous (1 patient) lesions were also observed; furthermore, one patient presented with a plantar wart-like lesion. In only one patient bacteriological examinations showed the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. All patients healed without complications.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the last 40 years, more than 120 articles were published about tungiasis, both autochthonous and imported to Western countries 1–72 . We present here the results of a clinical and histopathological study on 19 patients with imported tungiasis who were observed at our institute.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Imported tungiasis: a report of 19 cases and review of the literature

Veraldi

Valsecchi

2007

Int J Dermatology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Clearly, both our experience and that of others has shown that infestation can occur in virtually any site of the body. 5,[12][13][14][15][16] Although it has been reported that T. penetrans cannot jump high and consequently chooses the feet as the preferred site for penetration into the epidermis, [16][17][18][19] other factors hitherto unknown may lead to aggregation of lesions in the toes or heels. We have frequently observed fleas running across the skin with a mean velocity of approximately 10 mm/sec (Heukelbach J and others, unpublished data).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although there are dozens of case reports of tungiasis in travelers returning from tropical countries, 6,8,17,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] ectopic localizations have been reported in only two cases. 16,19 It is unlikely that a traveler with tungiasis will have overlooked a lesion on his or her body.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ectopic localization of tungiasis.

Heukelbach¹,

Wilcke²,

Eisele³

et al. 2002

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Tungiasis is caused by the penetration of the female sand flea Tunga penetrans into the epidermis. It is generally assumed that lesions are confined to the feet. To determine to what degree tungiasis occurs at other topographic sites, 1,184 inhabitants of a poor neighborhood in northeastern Brazil were examined; 33.6% were found to have tungiasis (95% confidence interval ‫ס‬ 30.9-36.4%). Six percent presented lesions at locations other than the feet, with the hands being the most common ectopic site (5.5%). Other sites were the elbows, thighs, and gluteal region. Ectopic tungiasis was significantly associated with the total number of lesions (P < 0.001) and an age less than 15 years old (P ‫ס‬ 0.02). In 86 patients actively recruited with lesions on their feet, ectopic localizations were observed in 25.6%. Since untreated sand flea lesions are prone to become superinfected, clinicians should be aware of not missing any ectopic localization of tungiasis.

show abstract

“…The centipedes are worm-like, segmented creatures with a distinct head and paired appendages on 39 around homes, farms, restaurants, stores, and warehouses. Other species that may infest homes are the Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis; the Australian cockroach, P. australasiae; and the brown-banded cockroach, Supella supellectilium.…”

Section: Chilopodamentioning

confidence: 99%