Very severe tungiasis in Amerindians in the Amazon lowland of Colombia: A case series.

BACKGROUND: Tungiasis is a parasitic skin disease caused by penetrating female sand fleas. By nature, tungiasis is a self-limiting infection. However, in endemic settings re-infection is the rule and parasite load gradually accumulates over time. Intensity of infection and degree of morbidity are closely related. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: This case series describes the medical history, the clinical pathology, the socio-economic and the environmental characteristics of very severe tungiasis in five patients living in traditional Amerindian communities in the Amazon lowland of Colombia. Patients had between 400 and 1,300 penetrated sand fleas. The feet were predominantly affected, but clusters of embedded sand fleas also occurred at the ankles, the knees, the elbows, the hands, the fingers and around the anus. The patients were partially or totally immobile. Patients 1 and 3 were cachectic, patient 2 presented severe malnutrition. Patient 3 needed a blood transfusion due to severe anemia. All patients showed a characteristic pattern of pre-existing medical conditions and culture-dependent behavior facilitating continuous re-infection. In all cases intradomiciliary transmission was very likely. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Although completely ignored in the literature, very severe tungiasis occurs in settings where patients do not have access to health care and are stricken in a web of pre-existing illness, poverty and neglect. If not treated, very severe tungiasis may end in a fatal disease course.

El modelo de la OMS como orientador en la salud pública a partir de los determinantes sociales / The WHO model as a guideline for public health based on social determinants

RESUMEN El desarrollo de la salud pública ha tenido múltiples enfoques, a partir desde los lineamientos de los sistemas de salud, la comunidad o el individuo. El presente análisis identificar los modelos conceptuales de la salud pública que surgen de analizar las categorías de salud o enfermedad y el nivel al cual se da la respuesta social: el individuo o familia, biofísico y el ambiente social; el modelo higienista o preventivo. Partiendo del concepto de modelo más allá de una representación de la realidad, como una postura ontológica de cómo entender la sociedad y el Estado, cualquier modelo se inscribe en una teoría y está en conjunto con otras teorías, hace parte de un marco de análisis. Se presentan entonces, tres modelos de proceso salud-enfermedad, el modelo canadiense que establece cuatro determinantes: estilo de vida, ambiente, factores biológicos y los servicios de salud. El modelo de determinantes sociales de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) con tres determinantes, el estructural, el intermedio y el proximal, basados en enfoque de riesgo. Por último el modelo histórico-social o de determinación social, buscando las raíces de las desigualdades sociales que inciden en la salud. El desarrollo del Sistema de Salud Colombia en su momento ha pasado por estos modelos en salud, actualmente la Política de Atención Integral en Salud con el Modelo de Atención Integral de Salud basa su enfoque dentro de un modelo de determinantes cado por la OPS.(AU)

ABSTRACT Public health has developed based on multiple approaches, including the guidelines of the health systems, the community or the individuals. This paper intends to identify the conceptual models of public health that arise after analyzing health or disease categories, as well as the level at which social response occurs: the individual or a family, biophysical and social environment; hygienist or preventive mode. Considering that the concept of model is not only a representation of reality, but an ontological position that allows to understand society and the State, all models are part of a theory and converge with other theories to create a framework of analysis. In consequence, three models of the health-disease process are presented. First, the Canadian model that establishes four determinants -lifestyle, environment, biological factors and health services-. Second, the social determinants model of the World Health Organization (WHO) that establishes three determinants based on risk approach: structural, intermediate and proximal. Finally, the historical-social or social determination model, which looks for the roots of social inequalities that affect health. The development of the Colombia Health System has considered these health models. Today, the Comprehensive Health Care Policy, and its Comprehensive Health Care Model, bases its approach within a model of determinants established by the PAHO.(AU)

[The WHO model as a guideline for public health based on social determinants]. / El modelo de la OMS como orientador en la salud pública a partir de los determinantes sociales.

Public health has developed based on multiple approaches, including the guidelines of the health systems, the community or the individuals. This paper intends to identify the conceptual models of public health that arise after analyzing health or disease categories, as well as the level at which social response occurs: the individual or a family, biophysical and social environment; hygienist or preventive mode. Considering that the concept of model is not only a representation of reality, but an ontological position that allows to understand society and the State, all models are part of a theory and converge with other theories to create a framework of analysis. In consequence, three models of the health-disease process are presented. First, the Canadian model that establishes four determinants -lifestyle, environment, biological factors and health services-. Second, the social determinants model of the World Health Organization (WHO) that establishes three determinants based on risk approach: structural, intermediate and proximal. Finally, the historical-social or social determination model, which looks for the roots of social inequalities that affect health. The development of the Colombia Health System has considered these health models. Today, the Comprehensive Health Care Policy, and its Comprehensive Health Care Model, bases its approach within a model of determinants established by the PAHO.

El desarrollo de la salud pública ha tenido múltiples enfoques, a partir desde los lineamientos de los sistemas de salud, la comunidad o el individuo. El presente análisis identificar los modelos conceptuales de la salud pública que surgen de analizar las categorías de salud o enfermedad y el nivel al cual se da la respuesta social: el individuo o familia, biofísico y el ambiente social; el modelo higienista o preventivo. Partiendo del concepto de modelo más allá de una representación de la realidad, como una postura ontológica de cómo entender la sociedad y el Estado, cualquier modelo se inscribe en una teoría y está en conjunto con otras teorías, hace parte de un marco de análisis. Se presentan entonces, tres modelos de proceso salud-enfermedad, el modelo canadiense que establece cuatro determinantes: estilo de vida, ambiente, factores biológicos y los servicios de salud. El modelo de determinantes sociales de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) con tres determinantes, el estructural, el intermedio y el proximal, basados en enfoque de riesgo. Por último el modelo histórico-social o de determinación social, buscando las raíces de las desigualdades sociales que inciden en la salud. El desarrollo del Sistema de Salud Colombia en su momento ha pasado por estos modelos en salud, actualmente la Política de Atención Integral en Salud con el Modelo de Atención Integral de Salud basa su enfoque dentro de un modelo de determinantes cado por la OPS.