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286883

Case Report: Severe Infestation with Tungiasis in a Coastal Community in Badagry Lagos, Nigeria.

Article

Last updated: 24 Dec 2024

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Abstract

Tungiasis is an ectoparasitic infection caused by the invasion of the skin of a man, dog, pig, or bird with gravid female Tunga species. Prevalence may reach up to 50% in impoverished areas of South America, the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa. Very severe cases characterized by more than 30 embedded sand fleas may be found but are not common. Few studies have been done in Nigeria, and in endemic communities of Lagos, a prevalence as high as 45.2% has been reported. We hereby report a severe case of Tungiasis in Ilaje, an endemic community in the Badagry Local Government area of Lagos during an active surveillance conducted between August 2021 to May 2022 involving Eighteen (18) communities. This case is a 54-year-old male farmer who presented with pain, inflammation, ulceration, and deformation of digits, heels and soles of his limbs. He reported a burning sensation, and pruritus and was observed to have difficulties in walking which was evidenced by a noticeable totter. Embedded fleas in clusters numbering between 30 to 60 per limb were extracted by manual removal and the wounds were treated topically. Tungiasis morbidity often leads to poor health and impoverishment. Although tungiasis is rare in nonendemic areas, however, with the increased travel and opening up of Badagry as a seaport and tourist site, this ectoparasite may further be disseminated if still neglected. It is therefore imperative to investigate the occurrence, create awareness and implementation of preventive measures among local inhabitants. Physicians should be familiarized with this infestation for easy diagnosis and treatment. 

DOI

10.21608/eajbsa.2023.286883

Keywords

Ectoparasitic infestations, morbidities, Fleas, Severe case

Authors

First Name

Olusegun-Joseph,

Last Name

Shade

MiddleName

Taiye

Affiliation

Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Yaba College of Technology Yaba, Lagos - Department of Zoology, Osun State University, Osogbo Osun.

Email

shade.olusegunjoseph@yabatech.edu.ng

City

Nigeria

Orcid

-

First Name

Olusegun-Joseph,

Last Name

Akinsanya

MiddleName

Daniel

Affiliation

Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos

Email

-

City

Nigeria

Orcid

-

First Name

Fowora,

Last Name

Adenike

MiddleName

Muinah

Affiliation

Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, Yaba Lagos

Email

-

City

Nigeria

Orcid

-

First Name

Rufai,

Last Name

Mohammed

MiddleName

Akinlabi

Affiliation

Department of Zoology, Osun State University, Osogbo Osun.

Email

-

City

Nigeria

Orcid

-

First Name

Adeleke,

Last Name

Monsuru

MiddleName

A.

Affiliation

Department of Zoology, Osun State University, Osogbo Osun

Email

-

City

Nigeria

Orcid

-

Volume

16

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

38799

Issue Date

2023-03-01

Receive Date

2023-01-16

Publish Date

2023-02-26

Page Start

89

Page End

97

Print ISSN

1687-8809

Online ISSN

2090-0813

Link

https://eajbsa.journals.ekb.eg/article_286883.html

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https://eajbsa.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=286883

Order

286,883

Type

Original Article

Type Code

667

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences. A, Entomology

Publication Link

https://eajbsa.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Case Report: Severe Infestation with Tungiasis in a Coastal Community in Badagry Lagos, Nigeria.

Details

Type

Article

Created At

24 Dec 2024