title: Community-based survey of podoconiosis in Bedele Zuria woreda, west Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Podoconiosis is a neglected tropical disease resulting in progressive bilateral swelling of the lower legs in barefoot individuals exposed to red-clay soil derived from volcanic rocks. It is a considerable public health problem in countries across tropical Africa, Central America and northern India. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical features of podoconiosis, and patients' experience of disease prevention and treatment, in Bedele Zuria woreda (district), west Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted during 2011 and involved a house-to-house survey in all 2285 households of five randomly selected rural kebeles (villages).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of podoconiosis was 5.6% (379/6710) (95% CI 5.1-6.2%) and was significantly greater among women than men (6.6% vs 4.7%; p = 0.001). A total of 311 (16.9%) households had at least one member with podoconiosis, and 128 (33.8%) study participants reported having a blood relative with podoconiosis. Two hundred and forty-three (76.4%) podoconiosis patients were in the economically productive age group of 15-64 years. On average, a patient experienced at least six episodes of adenolymphangitis per year resulting in a loss of 25 working days per year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has revealed a high burden of podoconiosis in west Ethiopia, and suggests that disease prevention and treatment programmes are needed.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 12A, Room 4044, 12 South Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Fasil
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tekola Ayele
authors.forename: Getahun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alemu
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ahrens
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004604:Elephantiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008205:Lymphangitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058069:Neglected Diseases; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ethiopia; Lymphoedema; Non-filarial elephantiasis; Podoconiosis; Prevalence; Survey
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