[Tropical ecopathology: up hill and down dale Buruli ulcer].
Buruli ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans) sees its incidence increase particularly in West Africa. Our Non Governmental Organization (Projet Humanitaire Afrique Nord Sud) studied the distribution of cutaneous ulcer (of which Buruli ulcer) between a flooded site (Bonou) and a dry site (Ketou) in Benin. The ratio "prevalence of Buruli ulcer in our patients of Bonou on prevalence of Buruli ulcer in our patients of Ketou" was 7.5 with a confidence interval at 95% at [1.4 - 41.4]. There is a link between a watery ecosystem and the emergence of Buruli ulcer. Buruli ulcer is overrepresented in the under 15 age group. It can interest all the zones of the tegument whereas the other ulcers concern especially the lower limbs. Thus doctors could not be unaware of the importance of ecological factors ... in precarious medium where diagnosis is based on interrogation, clinical examination and field experience.
Projet Humanitaire Afrique Nord Sud--2, rue du Moulin, 68780 Sentheim (F).
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Stoffel
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Barthelmé
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Chagué
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004190:Disasters; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019911:Mycobacterium ulcerans / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology*; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014881:Water Supply