306 research outputs found
The aetiology and pathogenesis of tropical ulcer
No full textTropical ulcer is a very specific form of cutaneous ulceration. It occurs worldwide in most tropical and a number of subtropical areas. The disease occurs mainly in older children and young adults with children under the age of 5 and adults over 45 years rarely being affected. Ulcers occur most commonly on the lower leg but may occur on the upper limb. Although most ulcers normally heal slowly over many weeks or months, some ulcers may recur. Recognised complications include squamous cell carcinoma, gangrene and osteitis, although these are rare. A number of authors have reported on the disease and suggested diet, trauma and infection as aetiological factors for this condition. This survey was thus conducted to assess as many of these factors as possible. The study took place in 5 tropical areas, namely Zambia, Gambia, southern India, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Consultations took place at hospitals, rural clinics, health centres and villages. Although many authors have suggested that the disease is related to malnutrition, few have objectively assessed the nutritional status of the patients and compared it with controls. Those studies which included objective assessments were limited to small areas and only investigated specific parameters. In order to investigate the immune response of the host to an anaerobic infection, the antibody levels to the organisms isolated from the ulcers were measured by an ELISA test. The local host response to an infection with a Fusobacterium species was assessed by the number of antibody secreting B-lymphocytes at the site of the ulcers. These parameters may play a role in the localisation of the ulcers and account for recurrent infections
Skin-Related Neglected Tropical Diseases (Skin NTDs)—A New Challenge
No full textMedical teaching has emphasised over many years the uniqueness of disease states, valuing the rare skills on which the art of diagnosis is based and the intricacies of individual patient-centred management. [...
Primary Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex cutaneous infection: report of two cases and literature review
No full textCompared to other organs, skin is an uncommon site of tuberculosis involvement. In the era of HIV infection, increased intravenous drug abuse, and the use of immunosuppressive therapy for various systemic diseases, tuberculosis in all its forms, including skin tuberculosis, has reemerged. We report two cases of primary cutaneous tuberculosis in immunocompetent patients and review the literature of all cases described since 1935. © 2008 International Society for Infectious Diseases.AGUS B, 2001, CLIN INFECT DIS, V33, P132; [Anonymous], 2003, MMWR RECOMM REP, V52, P1; Bravo FG, 2007, CLIN DERMATOL, V25, P173, DOI 10.1016-j.clindermatol.2006.05.005; FISHER I, 1966, J AMER MED ASSOC, V195, P314, DOI 10.1001-jama.195.4.314; GLICKMAN FS, 1969, ARCH DERMATOL, V100, P646, DOI 10.1001-archderm.100.5.646; HAIM S, 1978, CUTIS, V21, P643; Hay Roderick J, 2005, Curr Opin Infect Dis, V18, P93, DOI 10.1097-01.qco.0000160894.89739.9c; HEILMAN KM, 1965, NEW ENGL J MED, V273, P1035, DOI 10.1056-NEJM196511042731908; JONG JW, 2000, INT J TUBERC LUNG D, V4, P1184; KRAMER F, 1993, ANN INTERN MED, V119, P594; LONDON ID, 1972, ARCH DERMATOL, V106, P264; MELTZER M, 2006, CUTANEOUS TUBERCULOS; Michelson HE, 1935, ARCH DERMATOL SYPH, V32, P589; O' Leary PA, 1941, ARCH DERMATOL SYPH, V44, P371; PEREIRA CA, 1976, JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC, V235, P942, DOI 10.1001-jama.235.9.942; RAMOSESILVA M, 2003, DERMATOLOGY, P1152; RYTEL MW, 1970, AM REV RESPIR DIS, V102, P264; STRIKAS R, 1983, AM REV RESPIR DIS, V128, P316; Wong Hoong-Wai, 2005, Australas J Dermatol, V46, P84, DOI 10.1111-j.1440-0960.2005.00147.x96
Skin Disease in the Tropics and the Lessons that can be Learned from Leprosy and Other Neglected Diseases
No full textSkin disease is a common illness in most tropical regions where the pattern of clinical, presentations is dominated by infections. Along with common diseases such as pyodermas and fungal infections, a group of conditions known collectively as the neglected tropical diseases of the skin or Skin NTDs, which are the targets for worldwide control or elimination are also seen in health care facilities. These diseases range from the common, such a scabies, to those that are less frequent including leprosy and mycetoma. The initiative to use skin presentations of tropical diseases as a route to diagnosis by front line health workers is both logical and welcome. However, this requires training and monitoring and as the work gets under way, it is critically important that time invested in this programme is backed by firm and lasting commitment at regional and national levels
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