Tropical leg ulcers in children: more than yaws.
The management of yaws has changed in recent years. Mass treatment with oral azithromycin has replaced intramuscular benzathine benzylpenicillin. Treponemal and non-treponemal serology (equivalent to TPHA and RPR) point-of-care blood testing is now available. In addition, recent studies in yaws endemic regions have shown that a significant number of leg ulcers in children which are clinically suggestive of yaws are caused by Haemophilus ducreyi. It is noteworthy that the World Health Organization has also set the ambitious goal to eliminate yaws by 2020.
Clinical Tutor, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia djfegan@gmail.com.
David
D
Fegan
Medical Officer, Mater Children's Emergency Department, Brisbane, Australia.
Mary Jacqueline
MJ
Glennon
Head, World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Jacob
J
Kool
NTD Coordinator, Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Fasihah
F
Taleo
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D060740:Disease Eradication; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009514:Vanuatu / Q000453:epidemiology; D015001:Yaws / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine
Bacterial infection; disease control; skin and connective tissue; treatment