title: Severe tungiasis in Western Tanzania: case series.
abstract: Tungiasis is caused by infestation with the sand flea (Tunga penetrans). This ectoparasitosis is endemic in economically depressed communities in South American and African countries. However, data on the epidemiology of tungiasis in Tanzania are very limited and the disease does not receive much attention from health care professionals. During a community cross sectional survey in northwest Tanzania, we identified five individuals extremely infested with high number of parasites. A total of 435 lesions were recorded with patients presenting with >75 lesions and showed signs of intense acute and chronic inflammation. Superinfection of the lesions characterized by pustule formation, suppuration and ulceration were common. Loss of nails and walking difficulty was also observed. In Tanzanian communities living under extreme poverty characterized by poor housing condition and inadequate health services, tungiasis may cause severe morbidities. Further studies on risk factors and disease-related behavior of affected populations are needed to design adequate control measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Medicine, Weill-Bugando University, College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Humphrey D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Mazigo
authors.affiliation: Weill-Bugando University, College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bahemana
authors.affiliation: Weill-Bugando University, College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Ocimund
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dyegura
authors.affiliation: Pest Management Center, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Ladslaus L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Mnyone
authors.affiliation: Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, Division of Livestock and Human Disease Vector Control, Arusha, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Eliningaya J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kweka
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Medicine, Weill-Bugando University, College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zinga
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Weill-Bugando University, College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Eveline T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Konje
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Jomo Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waihenya
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil;; Anton Breinl Centre for Tropical Medicine and Public Health, School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
authors.forename: Jorg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heukelbach
keywords: living conditions; morbidities; northwest Tanzania.; tungiasis