Yaws disease: causes, symptoms and treatment & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What is yaws?

Yaws is a long-term (chronic) bacterial infection that most commonly affects the skin, bones and joints. This disease has three stages, namely:

• Yaws stage 1. About three to five weeks after a person is exposed to the bacteria that causes it, longan-like bumps will appear on the skin, generally on the legs or buttocks. This lump, sometimes called a yaws (also known as mother yaws), will gradually grow in size and form a thin yellow crust. The area can feel itchy and there may be swelling of nearby lymph nodes. The lumps usually heal on their own within six months and often leave scars.
• Yaws stage 2. The next stage can be started while there is still yaws or several weeks / months after the first stage of this bacterial infection has cleared up. At this stage, a crusty rash forms, which can include the face, arms, legs, and buttocks. The soles of the feet may also be covered by a thick, painful scab. Walking can be painful and difficult. Although bones and joints can also be affected, this condition in stage two usually causes no damage to these areas.
• Yaws stage 3. The final stage of the disease affects only about 10% of infected people. This condition begins at least 5 years after early yaws appeared. This late stage can cause severe damage to the skin, bones, and joints, especially in the legs. This late-stage yaws can also cause a form of facial damage, called gangosa or mutilan rhinopharyngitis because it attacks and destroys part of the nose, upper jaw, roof of the mouth (roof of the mouth) and part of the throat called the pharynx. If there is swelling around the nose, people with late-stage yaws may experience headaches and a runny / runny nose. Those who have reached stage 3 can also have a facial appearance called goundou.

How common is this condition?

Yaws, or in English is known by the term yaws, can affect a patient at any age. Yaws can be overcome by reducing your risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs and Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of yaws?

About 2 to 4 weeks after infection, a wart will appear called "mother yaws" aka yaws where the bacteria enter the skin. They can be brown or reddish in color and look like fruit raspberries . It is usually painless, but causes itching.

These warts can last for months. More warts will appear as soon as the yaws heals. Scratching the wart can spread the bacteria from the yaws to the uninfected skin. Eventually, the skin warts will heal.

Common symptoms of yaws are:

• One like growth raspberries an itchy skin (yaws), usually on the legs or buttocks, which eventually causes a thin yellow crust
• Swollen lymph nodes (swollen glands)
• Rash that forms a brown crust
• Bone and joint pain
• Painful bumps or warts on the skin and on the soles of the feet
• Swelling and damage to the face (late-stage yaws)

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about certain symptoms, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should call your doctor if you experience any of the following:

• You or your child has warts on the skin or bones that don't go away
• You have lived in the tropics where yaws is known to happen

Cause

What causes yaws ?

Yaws is caused by a subspecies Treponema pallidum , the bacteria that causes syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease. However, this disease is not sexually transmitted. In addition, unlike syphilis, yaws does not have the potential to cause long-term damage to the heart and cardiovascular system. The disease is almost always transmitted by direct contact with infected skin.

Yaws most affect children in warm tropical rural areas, such as Africa, the islands of the West Pacific, and Southeast Asia. Usually, this disease affects children between the ages of 2 and 5 years, especially those who frequently wear revealing clothing, experience frequent skin injuries, and live in areas with poor hygiene.

Triggers

What puts a person at risk for yaws?

The main factor that triggers yaws is an unclean lifestyle.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor for more information.

How is this condition diagnosed?

Your doctor may suspect that you have this disease based on your travel history, symptoms, and the results of your physical examination. To make a diagnosis, your doctor may order blood tests to check for evidence of a bacterial infection that is causing yaws. Doctors can also take tissue samples from skin warts. This sample will be examined in a laboratory for bacteria T. pallidum .

There is no specific blood test for this disease. However, the blood test for syphilis is often positive in people with this skin disease because the bacteria that cause the two conditions are closely related.

What are the treatments for this disease?

People with yaws disease are usually treated with a single injection of penicillin, given in various doses depending on the patient's age. If you are allergic to medicines that contain penicillin (sold under many brand names), your doctor may treat you with azithromycin, tetracycline, or doxycycline.

Yaws usually resolves quickly and without treatment. Usually, it heals on its own in six months. In the second and third stages, more severe rashes and lesions also persist. Without treatment, symptoms can return after years.

If you have been in close contact with someone who has this disease, your doctor may recommend that you receive penicillin or other antibiotics to prevent infection.

Prevention

What can I do to prevent and treat this disease?

Here are some remedies and prevention of this disease that you can do at home:

• Use the medication as prescribed
• Avoid contact with people who you suspect have yaws
• Keep it clean

If you have any questions, consult your doctor to understand the best solution for you.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.