AFRO-NETS> RFI: Tungiasis (aka, Jiggers, Chigoes or Pig Fleas) [4]

[Patricia Coyle <patricia@anae.rpa.cs.nsw.gov.au>]

RFI: Tungiasis (aka, Jiggers, Chigoes or Pig Fleas) [4]
-------------------------------------------------------

Yes, Jiggers (tunga penetrans) can cause considerable problems and 
tetanus has not infrequently resulted from infected sites. I heard, 
when working in Uganda in the 80s, that it had been the practice in 
earlier more peaceful and stable times that every morning at the be-
ginning of the school day children sat in pairs examining each 
other's feet and removing, usually with a safety pin, any egg sacs. 

With appropriate instruction, people, including quite young children, 
are able to do this very competently; the one or two occasions I at-
tempted to do this myself I ruptured the sac. I suggest you ask some 
of the elderly local people in your area for help and advice on this 
problem. (The fact that there is a problem in the area does not mean 
people have not coped with it in the past. You may see why this could 
be so.) They, I am sure, will have a solution, and a wise approach 
will, I expect, go far in bringing the problem into manageable pro-
portions. Petrol, kerosene etc applied to the site of a flea's inva-
sion of the skin (? not noticed until there is a full egg sac) will, 
I am was told, often? / always result in the flea exiting the place. 

The other technique - as above - puts the matter where it should be 
and how it should be - education and self-help and local responsibil-
ity. And that is an enormous service to people and their health care. 
As for elimination of the flea from the area: my view is - totally 
impractical if not impracticable. 

Good luck. 

Patricia Coyle
Department of Anaesthesia 
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital 
Missenden Rd Camperdown, NSW, 2050 Australia 
Tel: +61-2-9515-???? 
Fax: +61-2-9519-2455
mailto:patricia@anae.rpa.cs.nsw.gov.au

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