Case Report

Severe tungiasis in northwest Tanzania: A case series

Humphrey D. Mazigo, Emmanuel Bahemana, Ocimund Dyegura, Ladslaus L. Mnyone, Eliningaya J. Kweka, Maria Zinga, Eveline T. Konje, Rebecca Waihenyakeni, Jorg Heukelbach
Journal of Public Health in Africa | Vol 2, No 2 | a1120 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2011.e21 | © 2024 Humphrey D. Mazigo, Emmanuel Bahemana, Ocimund Dyegura, Ladslaus L. Mnyone, Eliningaya J. Kweka, Maria Zinga, Eveline T. Konje, Rebecca Waihenyakeni, Jorg Heukelbach | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 29 November 2024 | Published: 05 September 2011

About the author(s)

Humphrey D. Mazigo, Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Medicine, Weill-Bugando University, College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
Emmanuel Bahemana, Weill-Bugando University, College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
Ocimund Dyegura, Weill-Bugando University, College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
Ladslaus L. Mnyone, Pest Management Center, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
Eliningaya J. Kweka, Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, Division of Livestock and Human Disease Vector Control, Arusha, Tanzania
Maria Zinga, Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Medicine, Weill-Bugando University, College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
Eveline T. Konje, Department of Community Medicine, Weill-Bugando University, College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
Rebecca Waihenyakeni, Department of Zoology, Jomo Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
Jorg Heukelbach, Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil; and, Anton Breinl Centre for Tropical Medicine and Public Health, School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia

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Abstract

Tungiasis is caused by infestation with the sand flea (Tunga penetrans). This ectoparasitosis is endemic in economically depressed communities in South American and African countries. However, data on the epidemiology of tungiasis in Tanzania are very limited and the disease does not receive much attention from health care professionals. During a community cross sectional survey in northwest Tanzania, we identified five individuals extremely infested with high number of parasites. A total of 435 lesions were recorded with patients presenting with >75 lesions and showed signs of intense acute and chronic inflammation. Superinfection of the lesions characterized by pustule formation, suppuration and ulceration were common. Loss of nails and walking difficulty was also observed. In Tanzanian communities living under extreme poverty characterized by poor housing condition and inadequate health services, tungiasis may cause severe morbidities. Further studies on risk factors and disease-related behavior of affected populations are needed to design adequate control measures.

Keywords

tungiasis; morbidities; living conditions; northwest Tanzania

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