Tungiasis (jigger infestation) in Rural Kenya: Prevalence and Risk Factors
The parasitic skin disease tungiasis (caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans) occurs in resource-poor communities in Latin America, the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa. Information on prevalence and risk factors for infestation in rural Kenya where it’s endemic is nonexistent. Children drop out of school as they are unable to walk and face the challenge of stigmatization and discrimination. To fill this gap, a cross-sectional study was undertaken in Murang’a South district, central Kenya
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was carried out in Murang’a South district during high transmission season (dry season, August – September 2009). A total of 385 randomly selected households was visited. Children were examined for presence of tungiasis, and a questionnaire was administered to collect demographic, behavioral and environmental data.
RESULTS: Prevalence of tungiasis was 57% (218/385; 95% CI=51.7%-61.6%). Itching (89.1%) was the most common associated symptom, followed by pain upon pressure (67.3%), sleep disturbance (58.2%) and walking difficulties (53%). In multivariate logistic regression analysis the following independent factors were identified to be associated with tungiasis: living in houses with an earthen floors (adjusted OR=3.84; 95%IC: 2.09-7.06), walking barefooted (OR=3.28; 1.78-6.04), having a common resting place outside the house (OR=2.36; 1.01-5.51) and presence of rats on the compound (OR=1.69; 1.03-2.75).
CONCLUSIONS: Tungiasis is highly endemic in rural Central Kenya and associated with considerable morbidity. The disease is associated with poverty. There is dire need to fight jigger infestation for Kenya