Is there still yaws in Nigeria? Active case search in endemic areas of southern Nigeria.

<h4>Background</h4>Yaws is a disease caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, which is most commonly seen among children below 15 years. In the twentieth century yaws was endemic in Nigeria but eradication strategies markedly reduced the disease burden. Currently th...

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Main Authors: Ngozi Ekeke, Francis S Iyama, Joseph N Chukwu, Kingsley Asiedu, Michael Marks, Babatunde Omotowo, Olanike Agwu-Umahi, Victor O Nvene, Shiloh Paul, Charles C Nwafor, Anthony O Meka, Chinwe C Eze, Okechukwu E Ezeakile, Martin I Njoku, Ngozi N Murphy-Okpala
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2023-11-01
Series:PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0011753&type=printable
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author Ngozi Ekeke
Francis S Iyama
Joseph N Chukwu
Kingsley Asiedu
Michael Marks
Babatunde Omotowo
Olanike Agwu-Umahi
Victor O Nvene
Shiloh Paul
Charles C Nwafor
Anthony O Meka
Chinwe C Eze
Okechukwu E Ezeakile
Martin I Njoku
Ngozi N Murphy-Okpala
author_facet Ngozi Ekeke
Francis S Iyama
Joseph N Chukwu
Kingsley Asiedu
Michael Marks
Babatunde Omotowo
Olanike Agwu-Umahi
Victor O Nvene
Shiloh Paul
Charles C Nwafor
Anthony O Meka
Chinwe C Eze
Okechukwu E Ezeakile
Martin I Njoku
Ngozi N Murphy-Okpala
author_sort Ngozi Ekeke
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Yaws is a disease caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, which is most commonly seen among children below 15 years. In the twentieth century yaws was endemic in Nigeria but eradication strategies markedly reduced the disease burden. Currently there is minimal data on the ongoing transmission of yaws in Nigeria, despite reports of confirmed yaws cases in neighbouring West African countries.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted both community and school-based active yaws case search among school-aged children in southeast Nigeria. Children were screened by trained community volunteers. Suspected yaws cases were clinically reviewed and tested using rapid diagnostic serological tests.<h4>Results</h4>Between February and May 2021, up to 28 trained community volunteers screened a total of 105,015 school children for yaws. Overall, 7,706 children with various skin lesions were identified. Eight (8) suspected cases of yaws were reported, reviewed and screened, but none was confirmed using rapid diagnostic tests. The four most common skin conditions identified were scabies (39%), papular urticaria (29%), tinea corporis (14%) and tinea capitis (12%).<h4>Conclusions</h4>No case of yaws was confirmed in this large population of children in south-east Nigeria. Continuous community awareness and yaws case finding activities have been recommended across Nigeria.
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1935-2735
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spelling doaj-art-01756d727c1249d58ddeb4d35b32f4f62025-08-20T03:47:06ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352023-11-011711e001175310.1371/journal.pntd.0011753Is there still yaws in Nigeria? Active case search in endemic areas of southern Nigeria.Ngozi EkekeFrancis S IyamaJoseph N ChukwuKingsley AsieduMichael MarksBabatunde OmotowoOlanike Agwu-UmahiVictor O NveneShiloh PaulCharles C NwaforAnthony O MekaChinwe C EzeOkechukwu E EzeakileMartin I NjokuNgozi N Murphy-Okpala<h4>Background</h4>Yaws is a disease caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, which is most commonly seen among children below 15 years. In the twentieth century yaws was endemic in Nigeria but eradication strategies markedly reduced the disease burden. Currently there is minimal data on the ongoing transmission of yaws in Nigeria, despite reports of confirmed yaws cases in neighbouring West African countries.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted both community and school-based active yaws case search among school-aged children in southeast Nigeria. Children were screened by trained community volunteers. Suspected yaws cases were clinically reviewed and tested using rapid diagnostic serological tests.<h4>Results</h4>Between February and May 2021, up to 28 trained community volunteers screened a total of 105,015 school children for yaws. Overall, 7,706 children with various skin lesions were identified. Eight (8) suspected cases of yaws were reported, reviewed and screened, but none was confirmed using rapid diagnostic tests. The four most common skin conditions identified were scabies (39%), papular urticaria (29%), tinea corporis (14%) and tinea capitis (12%).<h4>Conclusions</h4>No case of yaws was confirmed in this large population of children in south-east Nigeria. Continuous community awareness and yaws case finding activities have been recommended across Nigeria.https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0011753&type=printable
spellingShingle Ngozi Ekeke
Francis S Iyama
Joseph N Chukwu
Kingsley Asiedu
Michael Marks
Babatunde Omotowo
Olanike Agwu-Umahi
Victor O Nvene
Shiloh Paul
Charles C Nwafor
Anthony O Meka
Chinwe C Eze
Okechukwu E Ezeakile
Martin I Njoku
Ngozi N Murphy-Okpala
Is there still yaws in Nigeria? Active case search in endemic areas of southern Nigeria.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
title Is there still yaws in Nigeria? Active case search in endemic areas of southern Nigeria.
title_full Is there still yaws in Nigeria? Active case search in endemic areas of southern Nigeria.
title_fullStr Is there still yaws in Nigeria? Active case search in endemic areas of southern Nigeria.
title_full_unstemmed Is there still yaws in Nigeria? Active case search in endemic areas of southern Nigeria.
title_short Is there still yaws in Nigeria? Active case search in endemic areas of southern Nigeria.
title_sort is there still yaws in nigeria active case search in endemic areas of southern nigeria
url https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0011753&type=printable
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