Tungiasis presenting as a soft tissue oral lesion.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The sand flea Tunga penetrans usually infects the feet and affects primary school-age children and elderly persons in rural Uganda. Tungiasis occurs nationwide but disease outbreaks have been reported in the Busoga sub-Region of eastern Uganda, associated with poor sanitation and proximity between humans and domestic animals. Ectopic tungiasis, usually seen with extensive infection and at weight-bearing body surfaces often follows exposure in highly infested environments. For patients who present abroad treatment may be surgical excision or amputation.

CASE PRESENTATION:

An adult female Musoga by tribe, resident in a Kampala City suburb presented at Mulago National Referral and Teaching Hospital's Oral Surgery and Jaw Injuries Unit with a discoloured swollen tongue, facial cellulitis and submandibular lymphadenopathy. A swelling palpable in the body of her tongue was excised and sent for histology. Tungiasis of the tongue was diagnosed after microscopic examination of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded Haematoxylin and Eosin-stained tissue sections.

CONCLUSION:

Lingual tungiasis is a rare diagnosis that was made on histological examination. Atypical presentation outside an endemic area predisposed the patient to partial glossectomy instead of the less invasive flea enucleation. Ectopic disease in a city-resident highlights the plight not only of visitors to infested areas but also of the communities and their domestic animals.

• Authors: Elizabeth Sentongo, Henry Wabinga
• Journal: BMC oral health (BMC Oral Health) Vol. 14 Pg. 112 (Sep 03 2014) ISSN: 1472-6831 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25186303 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Animals
• Biopsy
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Tongue (parasitology)
• Tongue Diseases (parasitology)
• Tunga (anatomy & histology)
• Tungiasis (diagnosis)