bad lesions. In severe cases tungiasis can lead to loss of digits, septicaemia and lameness. The traditional remedy is to inspect feet and extract intact fleas with a ...
Searching for fleas Graham Matthews* Not what might be expected for an expedition to Cameroon, but two UK medical students George Collins and Thomas McLeod recently went to the highlands north of Bamenda, where they visited nine villages around the town of Ndu, specifically to study the impact of jigger fleas on rural communities. Jigger fleas (Tunga penetrans) are known to infect children, causing tungiasis [see Box], so they set out to examine the severity of the problem. Including four local researchers (Isaac Konfor, Clarisse Lamnyam, Leonard Njamnshi and Leonard Ngarka), the team carried out a survey to gather data concerning the prevalence, impact, severity and localization of the parasitic jigger flea in the area. This was followed by a medical inspection of a total of 1151 pairs of feet, followed by a questionnaire to record each person’s experiences. After analysis of the data they were able to report that 53% of the population within the surveyed compounds were infested with the jigger flea, and 67% had suffered from it within the past month. The worst affected were those between the ages of five and nine years, 72% of whom were affected. A peak in prevalence was also seen in the 60+ age bracket. Males are worst affected by the flea, with 59% of all
Team member getting villagers ready for a foot inspection (Photo: Jigger Flea Infestation in Rural Cameroon project)
males affected, as opposed to 47% of females. The team is now developing an education programme, consisting of a poster illustrating ways in which the flea infestation can be reduced, and also a set of notes for speakers to present the poster at community centres, schools and churches. The hope is that this will
directly help the residents of the villages and improve their quality of life. Their project was approved and sponsored by the Royal Geographical Society. In Cameroon the Yaounde Initiative Foundation assisted with local information.
The jigger flea Mated female jigger fleas burrow headfirst into skin at the point of contact, usually the feet. They mature over the next one to two weeks, forming small boil-like sores in which the posterior end of the flea can be detected as a tiny black central spot. Once mature, the fleas discharge eggs through the skin and then die. Besides forming lumps, jigger flea infestations are characterized by inflammation, intense itching and pain. Sores can develop into bad lesions. In severe cases
tungiasis can lead to loss of digits, septicaemia and lameness. The traditional remedy is to inspect feet and extract intact fleas with a small sharp-pointed instrument – a task at which people living in afflicted communities are often very adept. Wearing shoes significantly reduces the problem. Tungiasis on a child’s foot (Photo: Jigger Flea Infestation in Rural Cameroon project)
November/December 2008
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