Buruli ulcer disease in Cameroon rediscovered.
To assess the magnitude of the Buruli ulcer (BU) problem in Cameroon, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in the Nyong River basin and identified on clinical grounds a total of 436 cases of active or inactive BU (202 and 234, respectively). Swab specimens were taken from 162 active cases with ulcerative lesions and in 135 of these (83.3%) the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by the IS2404 polymerase chain reaction. Most lesions (93%) were located on the extremities, with lower limbs being twice as commonly involved as upper limbs. The age of patients with active BU ranged from 2 to 90 years with a median age of 14.5 years. Vaccination with bacilli Calmette-Guérin appeared to protect children against more severe forms of BU with multiple lesions. We conclude that in Cameroon BU is endemic, at least in the study area, and that a comprehensive control program for BU in Cameroon is urgently needed.
Noeske
Jürgen
J
Aide aux Lépreux Emmaüs-Suisse, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Kuaban
Christopher
C
Rondini
Simona
S
Sorlin
Philippe
P
Ciaffi
Laura
L
Mbuagbaw
Josephine
J
Portaels
Françoise
F
Pluschke
Gerd
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D019911:Mycobacterium ulcerans; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
D001500:BCG Vaccine