How do people get yaws?

Published by Anaya Cole on

How do people get yaws?

Yaws is an infectious disease caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium (spirochete) known as Treponema pertenue. Yaws is usually transmitted by direct contact with the infected skin sores of affected individuals. In some cases, yaws may be transmitted through the bite of an infected insect.

Which country was suffering from yaws?

It was estimated that there were, globally, between 50 and 150 million cases of active yaws in the early 1950s. The countries in which the disease was prevalent in South America included Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil.

Are yaws fatal?

Yaws is rarely fatal, but the disease can lead to deformities or issues with mobility. Even with treatment, these issues might not go away. An estimated one in 10 untreated infections leads to disfigurement or disability.

Can adults get yaws?

Peak incidence occurs in children aged 6–10 years, and males and females are equally affected. Transmission is through person-to-person contact of minor injuries. The initial lesion of yaws is teemed with the bacteria. Most lesions occur on the limbs.

What is the incidence of yaws?

As a result, the incidence of yaws declined dramatically worldwide. This disease always has been extremely rare in the United States. Yaws is caused by a subspecies of Treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease. However, yaws is not transmitted sexually.

What is yaw disease?

During the 1950s, yaws was a common tropical illness, infecting 50 million to 100 million people. Since that time, the World Health Organization (WHO) has battled yaws in many tropical areas of the world.

What are the long term effects of late yaws?

Late yaws also can cause a form of facial disfiguration called gangosa or rhinopharyngitis mutilans as it attacks and destroys parts of the nose, upper jaw, palate (roof of mouth) and part of the throat called the pharynx.

Can second-stage yaws cause damage to the bones and joints?

Although the bones and joints also can be affected, second-stage yaws usually does not cause destruction in these areas. Late yaws — Late yaws develops in only about 10% of people who are infected with yaws. It begins at least five years after early yaws starts, and it can cause severe damage to the skin, bones and joints,…

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