A scoping review of mycetoma profile in Egypt: revisiting the global endemicity map

Abstract

Mycetoma is a chronic infectious disease endemic in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), India and parts of South and North America. The epidemiologic profile of the disease in Egypt, which neighbours SSA, has not been explored previously. Therefore we conducted a scoping review of the literature on mycetoma in Egypt. We searched the literature comprehensively on MEDLINE and Google Scholar using free-text words and Medical Subject Headings and terms. Both published and non-peer-reviewed (grey literature) articles were included. The initial search identified 133 reports. Of these, only eight were found to be relevant and were included in the study. The total number of mycetoma patients was 59, reported between 1949 and 2015. There was a predilection for eumycetoma (44 of 59) patients (75%), while actinomycetoma constituted 15 patients (25%). Six patients were female, 28 were male and 25 were unreported. Children and adolescents constituted 3 of 59 (5%), 52 (88%) were adults and age was not provided for 4 patients. Only four patients (7%) were non-autochthonous. The incidence of mycetoma in Egypt is higher than previously reported. Egypt is probably a low-endemic country. An accurate estimate of the prevalence and epidemiology of mycetoma necessitates further research collaboration.

Diagnostic capacity for cutaneous fungal diseases in the African continent

“…The highest global number of cases has been found in Sudan (at least 10,608), while Sudan's neighbor Chad and Egypt reported only 154 and 59 cases, respectively. 21,30 Senegal and Uganda reported their multiyear experience based on pathological confirmation with 337 cases over 18 years with regional variation in Senegal 23 and 279 cases over 70 years in Uganda. 23 Most African countries lack specialists in the field of mycology.…”

Improving mycetoma case detection through the training of community health workers in Northern Uganda: protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial

“…Even when mycetoma patients report to the health facility early, the absence of fast, reliable, and cost-effective diagnostic tools as point-of-care tests to establish a timely diagnosis of mycetoma hampers efforts to diagnose and initiate treatment early. 5,8 In 2016, during the 69th World Health Assembly, the WHO designated mycetoma as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) and mandated member states to expedite and reinforce strategies for enhancing early detection and treatment of mycetoma cases. 12 This initiative also sought to train healthcare workers and promote community awareness about mycetoma cases.…”

“…Several factors could be attributed to the underreporting of mycetoma cases by affected countries. These include the chronic and painless nature of the disease, its association with the people of low socioeconomic standing, 8 and inadequate public and health worker awareness of the diseases. 5 , 9 These factors make affected persons reluctant to seek health care, in fact, a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted among 7789 households in Sennar State, Sudan found that about 77% of the participants with mycetoma did not seek professional help while those that sought help had to incur exorbitant costs to access treatment.…”

“…Even when mycetoma patients report to the health facility early, the absence of fast, reliable, and cost-effective diagnostic tools as point-of-care tests to establish a timely diagnosis of mycetoma hampers efforts to diagnose and initiate treatment early. 5 , 8 …”