What are the causes of Buruli ulcer?
Buruli ulcer is caused by Mycobacterium and belongs to the family of bacteria that causes tuberculosis and leprosy. Although the causative organism of Buruli ulcer is an environmental bacterium, the mode of transmission to humans remains unknown.
Who were the most affected group by Buruli ulcer?
Age. Buruli ulcer may affect any age group, but most cases occur in children ages 5-15 years, except in Australia, where Buruli ulcer is more prevalent in adults older than 50 years.
Where in Ghana is Buruli ulcer endemic?
Prevalence of Buruli ulcer in the 10 districts with the highest caseloads, Ghana, 1999
| District | Region | Prevalence (rate of active cases per 100,000) |
|---|---|---|
| Kwawu South | Eastern | 57.0 |
| Upper Denkyira | Central | 114.7 |
| Afigya Sekyere | Ashanti | 107.1 |
| North Tongu | Volta | 85.7 |
How is Buruli ulcer transmitted?
Mosquito bites and puncture wounds are likely to transmit the bacteria that cause Buruli ulcer, a disfiguring infectious disease in humans. Buruli ulcer spreads via mosquito bites and puncture wounds, researchers have found. This infectious disease is spreading in areas near Melbourne, Australia.
How can Buruli ulcers be prevented?
Prevention of Buruli ulcer
- Wear gardening gloves, long-sleeved shirts and trousers when working outdoors.
- Avoid insect bites by using suitable insect repellents.
- Protect cuts or abrasions with sticking plasters.
- Promptly wash and cover any scratches or cuts you receive while working outdoors.
What antibiotics treat Buruli ulcer?
Treatment guidance for health workers can be found in the WHO publication Treatment of mycobacterium ulcerans disease (Buruli ulcer). A recent study suggests the combination of rifampicin (10 mg/kg once daily) and clarithromycin (7.5 mg/kg twice daily) is now the recommended treatment.
Which antibiotics are used to treat Buruli ulcer?
Antibiotics are established as first-line therapy for Buruli ulcer; the combination of rifampicin and streptomycin given for 8 weeks is effective in healing small lesions without surgery.
Is Buruli ulcer endemic?
Buruli ulcer (BU) is a neglected tropical infectious skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans that is mainly endemic in West and Central Africa.
Can Buruli ulcer be cured?
Most Buruli ulcers can be treated with a course of specific oral antibiotics. Surgery is sometimes used in combination with antibiotic therapy. If surgery is required, a small amount of surrounding healthy tissue is also cut out to make sure the infection is completely removed.
Is Buruli ulcer curable?
The headline finding of the trial is clear and promising: Buruli ulcer was curable with an 8-week course of oral antibiotics and surgery was not required in these patients.