title: Challenges in recognition and diagnosis of yaws in children in Papua New Guinea.
abstract: A global resurgence of yaws in developing countries highlights the need for reliable diagnostic criteria for this neglected infection. We conducted a clinical and serologic survey of 233 children less than 15 years of age who had clinically suspected yaws. A total of 138 (59%) cases were confirmed serologically, and 10 of 12 primary stage cases showed positive results for Treponema pallidum by a polymerase chain reaction assay that has not yet been validated for identification of yaws. A high proportion of cases (46%) were in the secondary stage; 92% of them had osteoarticular involvement, and only 24% had a Venereal Disease Research Laboratory titer greater than 1:32.
authors: Department of Medicine, and Department of Microbiology, Lihir Medical Centre, International SOS, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea. oriolmitja@hotmail.com
authors: Oriol
authors: O
authors: Mitjà
authors: Russell
authors: R
authors: Hays
authors: Francis
authors: F
authors: Lelngei
authors: Nedley
authors: N
authors: Laban
authors: Anthony
authors: A
authors: Ipai
authors: Slim
authors: S
authors: Pakarui
authors: Quique
authors: Q
authors: Bassat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015001:Yaws / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology