Yaws

What is yaws?

Yaws is a chronic tropical skin infection that can also infect bones in their later stages.

Yaws is caused by a spiral bacterium (spiroca (a) et), Treponema pallidum pertenue. Yaws belongs to the same family of bacteria like syphilis, Treponema pallidum pallidum.

Pian can be known locally as pian, parangi, paru, patek, buoba, coko, and tona.

How common is yaws?

Yaws was nearly eradicated by a global treatment program in the 1950s-60s. Between 1959 and 1961, people from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, and Tokelau received penicillin injections as part of a campaign by the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, a 2007 WHO report suggests yaws is increasing again, mainly in poor rural areas of West and Central Africa, Southeast Asia (Indonesia) and some Pacific islands such as Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands .

Who is at risk of yaws and how is it spread?

Yaws affects children under the age of 15. It occurs mainly in warm weather, damp, tropical areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, South America and Oceania among poor rural populations living in overcrowded conditions.

Yaws are spread from person to person through direct contact with infections. ulcers. The bacteria enters the skin at sites of trauma like scratches and bites on the legs.

What are the signs and symptoms of yaws?

Yaws is characterized by four distinct stages.

Laboratory tests for yaws

Yaws is generally diagnosed with the clinical findings of characteristic skin changes because T pallidum pertenue cannot be distinguished from T pallidum pallidum or other treponemal subspecies with commercially available laboratory tests. Other tests like PCR not yet regularly available.

Spirochetes can be detected during the primary or secondary infectious stages by dark field microscopic examination of tissue or tissue fluid taken from a papule, ulcer or lymph node.

There are two important blood tests:

• Non-treponemal tests (eg, RPR, VDRL): are generally positive at all stages of infection, except for very early lesions.
• Specific anti-treponemal antibody Tests (eg, TPHA, EIA): Detect antibodies due to past or present infection with any treponema. They cannot distinguish between yaws or syphilis or indicate the duration of infection. Most people with reactive treponemal tests will continue to have reactive tests for the rest of their lives, regardless of treatment or disease activity.

What does a positive syphilis test mean?

Blood tests are often done for syphilis as part of prenatal screening, an immigration doctor or as a treatment for undiagnosed health problems. It can be difficult to determine the exact cause of a positive result.

Positive syphilis test results may be due to current or past infection with any treponema, as the same antibody is produced in response to yaws, syphilis, and a less common infection, PT.

Due to the potentially serious consequences of late syphilis infection, it is prudent to assume that anyone born after 1960 has syphilis and treat it accordingly, unless there is clear documentation to the contrary.

What is the treatment for yaws?

If treated properly in its early stages, yaws are highly curable. A single injection of long-acting penicillin into a muscle is effective.

Skin lesions can take several months to heal. If treated late, significant disfigurement may persist permanently.