Tungiasis—A Neglected Disease with Many Challenges for Global Public Health

Feldmeier, Hermann; Heukelbach, Jörg; Ugbomoiko, Uade Samuel; Sentongo, Elizabeth; Mbabazi, Pamela Sabina; Samson‐Himmelstjerna, Georg von; Krantz, Ingela

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003133

Cited by 110 publications

(125 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

111

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Tungiasis remains a neglected yet significant disease associated with considerable morbidity and poor quality of life in endemic areas [3]. In such areas, the prevalence is estimated to range between 15 and 40% [4].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This cutaneous ectoparasitic infection is one of the neglected tropical diseases that are endemic in marginalized populations, including Sub-Saharan Africa [1–3]. Owing to the flea’s limited flying ability, tungiasis predominantly affects the periungual areas of the lower limbs in humans [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Owing to the flea’s limited flying ability, tungiasis predominantly affects the periungual areas of the lower limbs in humans [2]. However, in children, elderly, and immunocompromised persons, tungiasis may manifest with a severe clinical picture necessitating hospitalization including intensive care [3]. Tungiasis is reportedly endemic in nearly 90 countries; although it does not have a racial or sex predilection, areas of endemicity have poor housing standards, poor sanitation, and poor health literacy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Disseminated tungiasis in a 78-year-old woman from Tanzania: a case report

Pallangyo¹,

Nicholaus²

2016

J Med Case Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundTungiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases; it affects up to 40% of individuals living in societies with poor housing and sanitation standards. In endemic areas, Tunga infestation, which predominantly affects the periungual areas of the lower limbs in humans, is associated with considerable morbidity and poor quality of life.Case presentationA 78-year-old woman of African descent presented with pain, inflammation, suppuration, ulceration, and deformation of digits of all four limbs. She had a total of 1146 embedded sand fleas: 812 in lower limbs and 334 in her hands. She was febrile; her full blood count revealed pancytopenia and blood cultures were positive for Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes isolates. Furthermore, she had severe hyponatremia. We applied 20% salicylated petroleum jelly followed by the manual removal of embedded sand fleas with a sterile needle. Intravenously administered piperacillin-tazobactam, topical ivermectin, ferrous sulfate, folic acid, tolvaptan, albendazole, multivitamins, and tetanus prophylaxis were instituted. She was discharged home after 16 days of hospitalization.ConclusionsTungiasis is a neglected disease of concern in underprivileged societies that is preventable and curable. Early recognition and prompt treatment is crucial to prevent complications in this disease which may potentially mimic other conditions resulting in erroneous management.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Disseminated tungiasis in a 78-year-old woman from Tanzania: a case report

Pallangyo¹,

Nicholaus²

2016

J Med Case Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Usually, adults try to extract penetrated sand fleas by means of needles, pins or thorns, which result, almost constantly, in bacterial superinfections [4], caused by aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, including Clostridia [5]. These infections have the potential to cause severe complications such as cellulitis and tetanus [6] or could lead to mobility restrictions [7]. Tungiasis belongs to the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and it is endemic in many countries in Central and South America, in the Caribbean and in Sub-Saharan Africa [8][9][10][11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-resolution infrared thermography: a new tool to assess tungiasis-associated inflammation of the skin

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviels in 1526 reported first time and was followed by European travelers in South American population [2,4]. This disease came to Africa probably in 1873 [1,5]. Symptoms of the disease are inflammation of the skin at the area of entrance of the flea, followed by severe itching with a black dot at the centre and a white space around the black dot often accompanied by severe pain.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%