This infection is widespread mainly in South America, Africa and South Asia. Therefore, tungiasis occurs in these countries or in people who visit these endemic areas for tourism.
The plant in the skin of the parasite - also known as sand flea - may not be felt, but, at the entrance, it is possible to find a "white area with a dark point in the center, usually on the sole of the foot or under a "fingernail. At the level of this sign, an inflammatory, painful and itchy lump soon develops. This primary lesion of tungiasis corresponds to the full abdomen of the flea: if it is compressed, the lump leads to the escape of numerous eggs.
Left untreated, tungiasis can result in multiple lesions and bacterial overlaps.
As for the treatment, the flea must be removed with tweezers or a sterile needle, after applying ether or chloroform. Sometimes, a "surgical excision is needed."
., of people walking on an infested area (sandy ground or pavement where adult fleas are found).
There Tunga penetrans it can make leaps no higher than 20-30 cm, so the areas of the body at the highest risk of contact are the lower extremities. Only the females of the insect are hematophagous, that is, they feed on blood, when they have to get the nutrients to make the eggs mature.
