Tungiasis--a cause of painful feet in a tropical traveller.

Tungiasis is an ectoparasitosis caused by the impregnated female sand flea Tunga penetrans. It is endemic in certain resource poor areas around the world and imported infestations in travellers can lead to considerable morbidity. With the rise in international travel and immigration, the likelihood of physicians encountering such tropical skin infestations is rising. The ability of physicians to recognise tungiasis early will be immensely beneficial to patients. We describe a case of tungiasis where a traveller presented with painful foot lesions. The patient had returned to the United Kingdom 4 days previously after spending 4 weeks in the Pantanal region in Brazil. A literature review on this subject was undertaken in this article.

Tungiasis-related knowledge and treatment practices in two endemic communities in northeast Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Tungiasis, caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans, is highly prevalent in many resource-poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Studies on knowledge and treatment practices related to tungiasis in affected populations are virtually nonexistent. To fill this gap, we performed a study in two resource-poor communities in northeast Brazil where this parasitic skin disease is highly prevalent. METHODOLOGY: Structured interviews were realized in a representative sample of household leaders in an urban slum in Fortaleza, capital of Ceará State (northeast Brazil), and in a traditional fishing village 60 km southeast of the city. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety household leaders were interviewed in the urban slum and 136 in the fishing village. Knowledge about the etiological agent of tungiasis and its transmission was high in both communities: 90% knew the flea as the etiological agent of tungiasis. Transmission of tungiasis was thought to be related to sandy soil (72% and 84% in the urban slum and in the fishing village, respectively), presence of animals (52% and 59%), walking barefoot (5% and 23%), and with the presence of garbage littering the area (23% and 21%). Surgical extraction of embedded sand fleas using unsterile sewing needles was the most commonly treatment applied (97% and 96%). In addition, a variety of topical products and medical ointments was used. Mothers were almost exclusively responsible for treatment and knowledge transfer to the next generation. The health sector neither provided health education nor treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In communities of low socio-economic status in northeast Brazil, knowledge on tungiasis was high, but individuals did not follow appropriate treatment. A reduction of intensity of infestation, bacterial superinfection and associated morbidity is feasible with minimum support from the health sector, such as supplying hypodermic needles and disinfectants to mothers, and targeted health education.

Revision on tungiasis: treatment options and prevention.

The parasitic skin disease tungiasis occurs in many resource-poor communities in Latin America, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa. The sand flea, Tunga penetrans, most commonly penetrates into the skin of the feet. Many individuals harbor a large number of embedded parasites and show significant morbidity. Standard treatment consists of surgical extraction of the flea and application of a topical antibiotic. There are no drugs available with proven effectiveness. Clinical trials performed in the last few years did not show very promising results. Thus, surgical extraction still remains the treatment of choice in patients with a low parasite load, such as tourists returning from endemic areas. Probably the best approach to reduce tungiasis-associated morbidity in heavily affected individuals is the application of a repellent to prevent the penetration of sand fleas. In the future, we should see new exciting data on the biology, epidemiology, therapy and control of tungiasis.

External ophthalmomyiasis caused by Dermatobia hominis. A retrospective study of nine cases and a review of the literature.

PURPOSE: To report nine cases of external ophthalmomyiasis caused by Dermatobia hominis. METHODS: Retrospective, non-comparative, interventional case series. Participants consisted of patients (n = 9) presenting at Cayenne Hospital between 1968 and 2003. The location and number of larvae, the larval stage, and the medical and surgical procedures applied were studied in each case. RESULTS: Seven patients had palpebral myiasis (including one with three larvae) and two had conjunctival myiasis. Every patient had palpebral oedema. The larval respiratory pore was located on the palpebral skin or free margin or on the conjunctiva. Movements were present within the lesion in at least three patients. Petroleum ointment or ivermectine solution was used in at least four patients to smother or kill the larvae. Extraction under local anaesthesia was possible in six patients, while three required general anaesthesia. CONCLUSION: Several larvae may be present in a patient. Topical ivermectine may help to kill the larvae before extraction is attempted.