Tropical ulcers in a remote area in Zimbabwe

There is a dearth of literature on tropical ulcers in the rural areas in the tropics and subtropics. Results of a study of 1680 tropical ulcer patients attending an out patient department of a clinic in a rural district in Zimbabwe over a 14 months period are presented. The ulcers were more common during the wet humid months with 63 percent of the ulcers falling in the 5-14 year age group. There was a male predominance over the female with a ratio of 1.4:1. Culture and sensitivity results of isolates from 8 patients are discussed and the need for further studies on the possible causative organism(s) stressed. Implications of such outbreaks on the already over-burdened health care system are stressed; and the need for the intensification of health education in the prevention of this disease highlighted.