Tungiasis (jiggers)

exp date isn't null, but text field is

Burrowing, fungal infestation of the feet, hands, elbows, and sometimes buttocks.

Cause

  • Sand flea, Tunga penetrans

Signs and symptoms

  • Punctum or ulceration, often described as a white patch with a black dot on affected area
  • There may be redness and swelling around affected site
  • A serosanguineous exudate may ooze from the central opening, and eggs may be seen with the naked eye
  • Lesions can be painful and very itchy
  • Loss of toe nails and deformed toes

Differential diagnosis

  • Cercarial dermatitis
  • Scabies
  • Creeping eruption (ancylostoma species)
  • Tick or flea bite - myiasis

Complications

  • Tissue necrosis, suppuration, gangrene
  • Disfigurement, disability

Investigations

  • Diagnosis is clinical

Treatment objectives

  • Treat the infection
  • Prevent complications

Non-pharmacological/pharmacological Treatment

Self-healing

In many cases, tungiasis will heal on its own as the burrowed flea dies within 2–5 weeks, and naturally sloughs off as the skin sheds

Surgical removal

Physical removal of the flea using sterile forceps, or needles, or safety pins

Medicine treatment and suffocation of flea

Apply benzyl benzoate 25% emulsion twice daily

to the affected area for 6 days

OR

Apply calamine lotion to relieve pruritis

Immerse affected area in potassium permanganate 0.05% once a day for 10 minutes for 10 days

Then follow with application of thick petroleum jelly or 20% salicylated petroleum jelly (Vaseline) daily for 7 days