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Yaws in Africa: Past, Present and Future
Ezekiel K Vicar1,2, Shirley V Simpson3, Gloria I Mensah3
1Department of Clinical Microbiology, University for Development Studies, Tamale P.O. Box TL 1350, Ghana.
Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 24, 2025
Summary
Yaws, a neglected tropical disease, affects children in tropical regions. Effective oral treatments and diagnostic tests offer a promising path toward eradicating this infectious skin disease in Africa.
Area of Science:
- Tropical Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Yaws is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) primarily affecting children and adolescents in impoverished tropical communities.
- It is endemic in at least 15 countries, with significant data gaps in surveillance.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to improve early detection, diagnosis, and management for yaws eradication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing literature on yaws in Africa.
- To highlight epidemiological patterns, genetic variability, diagnostic methods, treatment, and control strategies.
- To identify challenges and prospects for yaws eradication.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed and Scopus databases.
- Eligible peer-reviewed articles focusing on yaws in Africa were selected for review.
Main Results:
- Thirty eligible articles were identified from a pool of 188 peer-reviewed publications.
- The studies encompassed 11 African countries, reporting yaws prevalence ranging from 0.50% to 43.0%.
Conclusions:
- The availability of effective, inexpensive oral treatments and validated diagnostic tests presents a strong opportunity for yaws eradication.
- Integrated disease control efforts are crucial for sustainability and improving the quality of life for affected populations.
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