Mazigo Humphrey D, Bahemana Emmanuel, Dyegura Ocimund, Mnyone Ladslaus L, Kweka Eliningaya J, Zinga Maria, Konje Eveline T, Waihenya Rebecca, Heukelbach Jorg
Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Medicine, Weill-Bugando University, College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Weill-Bugando University, College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
J Public Health Afr. 2011 Sep 5;2(2):e21. doi: 10.4081/jphia.2011.e21.
Tungiasis is caused by infestation with the sand flea (). 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.
潜蚤病由沙蚤（）感染引起。这种体表寄生虫病在南美和非洲国家经济萧条的社区呈地方性流行。然而，坦桑尼亚潜蚤病的流行病学数据非常有限，该疾病并未受到医护人员的太多关注。在坦桑尼亚西北部的一次社区横断面调查中，我们发现了5名寄生虫感染极为严重的个体。共记录到435处病损，患者病损数>75处，并表现出强烈的急性和慢性炎症迹象。以脓疱形成、化脓和溃疡为特征的病损继发感染很常见。还观察到指甲脱落和行走困难。在住房条件差且卫生服务不足的极端贫困的坦桑尼亚社区，潜蚤病可能导致严重发病。需要对受影响人群的危险因素和疾病相关行为进行进一步研究，以制定适当的控制措施。
