Tungiasis-related life quality impairment in children living in rural Kenya

Wiese, Susanne; Elson, Lynne; Feldmeier, Hermann

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005939

Cited by 37 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The VAS has been validated in illiterate patients before. 17 Established scales as mentioned in the prurigo guidelines, 16 like the 10-point VAS, proved to be too complicated for the local population. Insomnia was classified by the patients as absent (zero points), slight (one point), moderate (two points), and severe (three points) ( Fig.…”

Section: Intensity Of Pruritusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tickbite‐associated chronic pruritic lesions in an Afro‐descendant population in the Cauca Department, Colombia. I. Clinical features and impact on health

et al. 2020

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Background During a health survey in a remote area in southwest Colombia, it became apparent that a high percentage of the population suffered from chronic pruritus in association with high numbers of ticks and tickbites. Objective To determine the clinical features and severity of tickbite-associated pruritus. Method At twotime points-8 weeks apart to account for seasonal effectsa crosssectional study was conducted encompassing physical examination of the population, histological analysis of skin biopsies, and determining serum for antibodies against spotted fever (SFG) rickettsiae and typhus group (TG) rickettsiae. Ticks were identified using morphological criteria, and infection by rickettsiae was determined by PCR. Results About 94.5% of the population (95% CI 92-97%) showed clinical signs of a pruritic arthropod reaction and of chronic pruritus with lichenoid papules and hyper-and hypopigmented nodules on otherwise noninflamed skin. Pruritus markedly impaired the quality of life in terms of sleeping disturbances. No signs for other diseases were observed. Chronic pruritus appeared to be because of repeated tickbites and scratching, but not because of other dermatological or medical conditions. Antibodies against SFG and TG-rickettsiae were detected at 79.0% (95% CI 73-86) and 3.6% (95% CI 0.7-6), respectively. Ticks were identified as Amblyomma cajennense. Conclusion Remarkably high exposure to tick bites caused an unusually high rate of acute and chronic pruritus and markedly impaired quality of life of the investigated rural community. This underlines the necessity of public health measures and surveillance of rickettsial disease. Colombian village in southwest Colombia, where people reported about repeated infestations with ticks in the field, associated with an unusually persistent or chronic pruritic dermatosis. These conditions affected almost all inhabitants and

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Section: Intensity Of Pruritusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tickbite‐associated chronic pruritic lesions in an Afro‐descendant population in the Cauca Department, Colombia. I. Clinical features and impact on health

et al. 2020

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“…Due to pain and itching, children are unable to concentrate on their lessons at school and have difficulty in sleeping and walking [ 2 , 23 , 25 , 26 ]. Tungiasis has recently been demonstrated to significantly impair the quality of life of children [ 27 ]. Infection is often associated with stigma, with victims being ridiculed, and they consequently isolate themselves.…”

Section: Morbiditymentioning

confidence: 99%

Control of Tungiasis in Absence of a Roadmap: Grassroots and Global Approaches

Elson¹,

Wright

Swift

et al. 2017

TropicalMed

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Tungiasis is a tropical skin disease caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans. It inflicts misery upon tens of millions of people, mostly children, across Central and South America and sub-Saharan Africa, and yet there is no globally accepted roadmap for its control. Here we review how research in the last 15 years has developed control methods and report on new grassroots and digital mapping approaches. Treatment is now possible with a two-component dimethicone, used for the treatment of headlice in Europe, Asia and Canada, but not yet available in most tungiasis-endemic areas. Prevention is possible through the daily use of repellents based on coconut oil. A Kenyan coastal community has successfully controlled tungiasis using a neem and coconut oil mix produced locally to treat cases, combined with spraying floors with neem solution and distributing closed shoes. Development of affordable hard floor technology is underway, although not yet widely available, but is a priority to control off-host stages in the floors of homes. A new web-based digital mapping application will enable researchers and health officials to collaborate, share data and map the prevalence of tungiasis. We conclude that tungiasis can be controlled through a multi-disciplinary, One Health approach.

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“…Chronic infections result in chronic pain, disability, disfigurement and mutilation of the feet [6, 7, 8]. Children with tungiasis are often ridiculed by their peers and it has been shown that physical incapacity, mental strain and distress reduce quality of life [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence, intensity and risk factors of tungiasis in Kilifi County, Kenya II: Results from a school-based observational study

et al. 2019

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Introduction Awareness of the public health importance of tungiasis has been growing in East Africa in recent years, but data on epidemiological characteristics necessary for the planning and implementation of control measures do not exist. The work presented here was part of a larger cross-sectional study on the epidemiology of tungiasis in coastal Kenya and aims at identifying risk factors of tungiasis and severe disease in school children. Methods A total of 1,829 students of all age groups from five schools and 56 classes were clinically examined for tungiasis on their feet based on standardized procedures and observations made about the school infrastructure. To investigate the impact of school holidays, observations were repeated after school holidays in a subset of children in one school. In an embedded case-control study, structured interviews were conducted with 707 students in the five schools to investigate associations between tungiasis and household infrastructure, behaviour and socio-economic status. Results The overall prevalence of tungiasis was 48%; children below the age of 15 years were the most affected, and boys were twice as likely as girls to be infected. The highest risk of disease was associated with the socio-economic circumstances of the individual student at home. The study indicated that mild to moderate tungiasis could be reduced by a third, and severe tungiasis by over half, if sleeping places of children had hardened floors, whilst approximately a seventh of the cases could be prevented by sealing classroom floors in schools, and another fifth by using soap for daily feet washing. Conclusion There is a clear role for public health workers to expand the WASH policy to include washing of feet with soap in school-aged children to fight tungiasis and to raise awareness of the importance of sealed floors.

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Tungiasis-related life quality impairment in children living in rural Kenya

Cited by 37 publications

References 35 publications

Tickbite‐associated chronic pruritic lesions in an Afro‐descendant population in the Cauca Department, Colombia. I. Clinical features and impact on health

Tickbite‐associated chronic pruritic lesions in an Afro‐descendant population in the Cauca Department, Colombia. I. Clinical features and impact on health

Control of Tungiasis in Absence of a Roadmap: Grassroots and Global Approaches

Prevalence, intensity and risk factors of tungiasis in Kilifi County, Kenya II: Results from a school-based observational study

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