AFRO-NETS> RFI: Tungiasis (aka, Jiggers, Chigoes or Pig Fleas)

[Kimberly Baldwin Radford <kim@dts.mg>]

RFI: Tungiasis (aka, Jiggers, Chigoes or Pig Fleas)
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Greetings from Madagascar! I am seeking information on the treatment 
of severe tungiasis, as well as any cost-effective suggestions for 
community-wide eradication or prevention.

For the uninitiated, this is a type of flea that burrows into the 
foot or hand. I am seeing children who have up to 40 on each foot, 
many of which have developed secondary bacterial infections or fun-
gus. There is also an increased risk of tetanus. I have read that two 
treatments of Niridazole will kill the larvae, but cannot find this 
drug at all here. The local remedy is to put diesel all over the 
feet; petrol has also been suggested.

My questions:

1) Can anyone suggest a more appropriate treatment? Does anyone know 
an equivalent to Niridazole? 

2) Are there any "natural" or low-cost measures for prevention that 
we could try; e.g., any plants that are known to be a natural pesti-
cide to these fleas? These people live in an extremely poor commu-
nity, so mass distribution of anything that costs much money is not 
feasible. 

3) Are there any natural or low-cost methods for eradication that 
anyone can suggest? We live on the east coast, so everything is just 
sand (the fleas' preferred environment). Many of these children live 
in houses with sand floors. 

4) I have not had much success finding out about tungiasis on the Web 
-- not many details. Does anyone know if the fleas prefer hot dry 
sand, or are they more likely to thrive during the wet season? Local 
answers vary.

I realize that in the overall scheme of international health prob-
lems, this seems pretty banal, but tungiasis is a real scourge here 
and is really quite debilitating for some children given the dis-
tances that they walk to school.

BTW, if anyone is interested, I can also e-mail photos of affected 
feet and hands!

Thanks for your help!

Kim Baldwin Radford, MPH 
Tamatave, Madagascar
mailto:kim@dts.mg

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