[Tungiasis in Bangou (West Cameroon)]

Tungiasis is an ectoparasitosis caused by penetration into the skin of the sand or chigger flea, Tunga penetrans. The epidemiology in Cameroon of this disease, often associated with poverty, is unknown. Accordingly, in August 2008, we conducted a study in Bangou, in Western Cameroon, among a sample of 403 people, divided in 111 families. All data were collected and analyzed with Epi-Info 6.4 software. The prevalence in this population was 32.7%, with infestation more frequent in males (P = 0.013), mostly in children aged 1 to 5 years. The most frequent clinical features were simple inflammatory lesions (100%), infected lesions (2.27%) and necrosis (0.75%). Most patients had a moderate infestation (86.4%), lived in houses with mud floors and brick walls (OR = 2.57; 95%CI [1.67-3.96]), and had animals (dogs) in the household. The principal risk factors were sex- and age-related: boys younger than 15 years old (OR = 5.40; 95%CI [3.20-9.12]) and schoolchildren (OR = 2.57; 95%CI [1.67-3.96]). The main sequelae were toenail deformations (34%).