Abstract
Three cases of tungiasis are reported. The first regards a 48-year old man living in tropical Africa; the second and the third regard a 27 and 24-year old young people respectively, coming back recently from Brasil. Medical examination revealed two or one papular lesions localized in their sole. The histology of the excised lesions in the first case showed an intracorneal cystic cavity with the parassite inside. The Tunga penetrans is a flea that, as an adult female, can infest man. The life cycle comprises four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. After invading the skin, the gravid flea enlarges up to 1 cm; the epidermis surrounds the flea except for its tail which opens to the outside trough a hole in the stratum, corneum. Eggs are discharged through this opening and they begin a new cycle on the ground. Man is infested by walking barefoot in warm, dry and sandy soil. Treatment consists of removing the flea with a sterile needle or by excision.
| Translated title of the contribution | Tungiasis: Three cases |
|---|---|
| Original language | Italian |
| Pages (from-to) | 279-281 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Annali Italiani di Dermatologia Clinica e Sperimentale |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 1993 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology