Jinja, Uganda James Akena Perspective byJames Akena
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All this started when a friend who works with NGOs travelled to eastern Uganda. It was very shocking for him to see a human body consumed with flea parasites, only two hours from the capital. My friend showed me a picture of Yusuf Kagwa, a 45-year-old farmer.
The problem of the so-called jigger parasite - female sand fleas that burrow their way under skin - is widespread in eastern, northern and northeastern parts of Uganda.
It was shocking to see the pain, the blood, the cutting - especially because this is very simple to avoid.
Hands, feet, knees and other parts of the body. To completely eradicate jiggers
jiggers
Tunga penetrans is a species of flea also known as the jigger, jigger flea, chigoe, chigo, chigoe flea, chigo flea, nigua, sand flea, or burrowing flea. It is a parasitic insect found in most tropical and sub-tropical climates.
, the victims' homes should be thoroughly fumigated. Animals that may be carrying the fleas should also be treated. Victims and their families should also be educated on the need to observe hygiene.
A sterile needle can be used to remove the fleas from the skin when the infestation has recently occurred. Other more invasive procedures like surgery may be indicated at later stages, especially if there are other complications from the flea invasion.
Affected areas (usually hands and feet) were washed with soap, soaked in a hydrogen peroxide mixture for 15 minutes (this suffocates the jiggers and brings them to the surface without breaking the skin), and covered in a coat of petroleum jelly.
If left untreated, jiggers can lead to deadly secondary infections or even amputation. People suffering with jiggers usually attempt to remove them with safety pins, thorns, or other sharp, and often unsanitary, objects.
Using Potassium permanganate solution, PIPES has treated over 3000 patients in Africa. The organization ensures prevention measures by creating awareness and promoting environmental and personal hygiene to avoid jigger breeding and infestation.
Apply bug spray containing DEET to repel chiggers, especially on socks, ankles and legs. On a hot day, a chigger can climb from your ankle to your waistband in 15 minutes.
Over the course of about three weeks, the flea will expel as many as 200 eggs into the environment and then die in situ, leaving a black crust covering a lesion containing the dead flea, which is eventually sloughed off from the epidermis.
Chiggers prefer to eat vegetation, which is why they usually camp out in tall grass or wooded areas. They jump to animal and human hosts, feeding on skin cells that they liquify for consumption by injecting fluid into the animal or human.
Chigger bites are itchy red bumps that can look like pimples, blisters, or small hives. They are usually found around the waist, ankles, or in warm skin folds. They get bigger and itchier over several days, and often appear in groups. Chigger bites start to itch within hours of the chigger attaching to the skin.
They are now present in the Caribbean, Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and India, but not in Europe or North America. Jigger larvae live a few centimetres under sand or soil, feeding on organic matter. They are often found inside dwellings with mud floors.
Tungiasis is commonly known as pulga de areia, niguá, pique, bicho do pé, bichodo porco or jatecuba, jigger, sand flea or chigoe. It causes immense pain and itching, difficulty walking, sleeping and concentrating on school or work. Tungiasis can be associated with abscesses caused by secondary bacterial infections.
However, in tropical areas of the world, chigger bites can occur year-round. Patients usually display pruritic papules, sometimes clustered around tightly fitting clothes. Itching usually lasts a few days but can sometimes extend as long as 2 weeks.
The first phase, washing the affected area, is painful. The jiggers are then removed with safety pins or razor blades. There's no way of numbing the body.
Chigger bites can be treated at home, but can take up to several weeks to completely heal. While it's hard to do, avoid itching, which can break your skin and lead to an infection. An ice pack or a cold compresses can help sooth itchy skin.
We advise rinsing under hot water between co*cktails and washing more thoroughly, preferably in a dishwasher or glasswasher from time to time. The red markings on the jigger will last longer if not rubbed when drying with a cloth.
Introduction: My name is Geoffrey Lueilwitz, I am a zealous, encouraging, sparkling, enchanting, graceful, faithful, nice person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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