(also '''Frambesia tropica''', '''thymosis''', '''polypapilloma tropicum''' or '''pian''') is a tropical
Infection of the
Skin ,
Bone s and joints caused by the spirochete
Bacterium ''Treponema pertenue''. Other treponematosis diseases are
Bejel (''Treponema endemicum''),
Pinta (''Treponema carateum''), and
Syphilis (''Treponema pallidum'').
The disease is transmitted by skin contact with infected individuals or
Eye Gnats , the spirochete entering through an existing cut or similar damage. Within ninety days (but usually less than a month) of infection a painless but distinctive 'mother yaw'
Ulcer ous
Papule appears on the skin at the point of entry, it is often described as
Raspberry -like and is 10-50 mm in size. This lesion will persist for up to nine months and other secondary growths will appear on the body as the original one heals, there may also be inflammation of the fingers (dactylitis).
If untreated a secondary stage occurs after up to four months of latency, it is marked by more 'raspberry' growths but smaller and ulcerous - exuding a thin, highly infective fluid which attracts flies. These growths may also merge together into thick fissured plaques, which can occur on the feet and induce a distinctive gait. These secondary growths are irreversible but there can be relapsing lesions and asymptomatic periods.
In 10-20% of cases the disease can progress over a decade or more to a tertiary stage with destructive lesions of the skin and bones. Large subcutaneous nodules develop and grow before
Abscess ing and ulcerating, these can become infected and may merge together forming serpiginous tracts. These tracts heal with keloid formation which can cause deformities, disabilities and limb contractures. The bone lesions caused are
Periostitis ,
Osteitis , and
Osteomyelitis , damage to the
Tibia can lead to a condition known as sabre shins. In a very few cases a condition known as ''goundou'' is caused where growths on the nasal maxillae can result in extensive and severe damage to the nose and palate.
The largest group afflicted by Yaws are
Child ren aged 6 to 10 years in the
Caribbean Islands ,
Latin America ,
West Africa ,
India ,
Oceania or
Southeast Asia . There were
World Health Organization funded campaigns against yaws from
1954 to
1963 which greatly reduced the incidence of the disease, although more recently numbers have risen again.
The disease is identified from blood tests or by a lesion sample through a darkfield examination under a microscope. Treatment is by a single dose of
Penicillin ,
Erythromycin or
Tetracycline , recurrence or relapse is uncommon.
Examination of ancient remains has led to the suggestion that yaws has affected
Hominid s for the last 1.5 million years. The current name is believed to be of
Carib origin, "yaya" meaning sore; frambesia is a Modern Latin word inspired by the
French word ''framboise'' ("raspberry").
- McNeill, William H. "''Plagues and People''." Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., New York, NY, 1976, ISBN 0-385-12122-9.
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