$Unique_ID{BRK04344} $Pretitle{} $Title{Yaws} $Subject{Yaws Breda's Disease Charlouis' Disease Frambesia Pian forest yaws leischmaniasis hemorrhagic pian verruga peruana bartonellosis Parangi Bouba leischmaniasis Gangosa Ogo Mutilans Rhinopharyngitis Mutilans Goundou Henpue Henpuye Gundo Anakhre} $Volume{} $Log{} Copyright (C) 1986 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. 132: Yaws ** IMPORTANT ** It is possible that the main title of the article (Yaws) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article. Synonyms Breda's Disease Charlouis' Disease Frambesia Pian (note: pian is not the same as pian bois or hemorrhagic pian: pian bois is a synonym for forest yaws, a form of leischmaniasis; hemorrhagic pian is the same as verruga peruana, one of the manifestations of bartonellosis) Parangi Bouba Note: "forest yaws" is not a form of yaws; it is a form of leischmaniasis - see note with "pian") DISORDER SUBDIVISIONS: Gangosa (also known as Ogo and Rhinopharyngitis Mutilans) Goundou (also known as Henpue or Henpuye, Gundo, and Anakhre) General Discussion ** REMINDER ** The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources" section. Yaws is a usually nonvenereal infectious disease caused by an organism related to syphilis. Skin, and later, bone lesions characterize the disease. It is common among children in the humid tropics of Africa, South and Central America, the West Indies, and the Far East, but is rare in the United States. Antimicrobial therapy can cure the disease, although scars are permanent. Symptoms Yaws occurs in three stages. In the first, which occurs in young children, a tumor-like growth appears where the infectious organism is implanted, usually on the lower leg or foot. The lesion grows, develops a crust, and disappears over a period of several weeks, leaving a scar. The second stage follows several weeks or months later. New, smaller but more numerous growths appear on the face, legs and arms, and around the anus and genitals. These lesions heal slowly, sometimes with relapses. On the soles of the feet, they may become keratotic (thickened and hard), and develop painful cracks and ulcerations, a condition called "crab yaws". The third or tertiary stage of yaws occurs only in some cases. Several years after the appearance of the lesions characteristic of the second stage, destructive lesions of the skin and bone may develop. Skin lesions are soft and tumor-like, or ulcerative, and can cause disfigurement of the face. Bone lesions develop from inflammation of the sheath covering the bones (periostitis), and cause pain and deterioration of the bone, especially of the tibia (one of the shin bones). Painful and destructive nodules may appear around the joints. Goundou is a painless but marked symmetrical swelling at the sides of the nose due to benign growth of bone and cartilage due to periostitis. It is accompanied by headache and nasal discharge. It is a manifestation of tertiary yaws. Gangosa, also a common manifestation of tertiary yaws and related diseases, consists of destruction of the nose, the nasal part of the pharynx, and the hard palate. Causes Yaws is caused by a spirochete (a microorganism) called Treponema pertenue. This organism is related to and visually indistinguishable from those responsible for venereal syphilis, bejel (endemic syphilis), and pinta. (For more information, please see articles in the database on these related diseases.) The infection is usually transmitted by direct contact with open lesions. In some areas, certain species of flies may transmit the disease. In rare cases, individuals acquire the disease through sexual contact. Affected Population Yaws occurs primarily among children in the humid tropics of South and Central America, Africa, East Asia, and the West Indies. Related Disorders The treponematoses (yaws, bejel (endemic syphilis), pinta, and venereal syphilis) are all caused by identical looking spirochetal microorganisms known as treponemas. They differ in distribution, mode of transmission, and clinical characteristics and course. (For more information on the above disorders, choose the following words as your search terms in the Rare Disease Database: bejel, pinta, and syphilis.) Therapies: Standard Therapy for Yaws includes antimicrobial drugs such as benzathine penicillin G usually heal lesions and eliminate Treponema pertenue. Such drugs can also be used preventively in family members and others in frequent contact with patients. Disfigurement and scars are permanent, however. Therapies: Investigational This disease entry is based upon medical information available through September 1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder. Resources For more information on Yaws, please contact: National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 8923 New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783 (203) 746-6518 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 1600 Clifton Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30333 (404) 639-3534 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 (301) 496-5717 References CECIL TEXTBOOK OF MEDICINE, 18th ed.: James B. Wyngaarden, and Lloyd H. Smith, Jr., Eds.: W. B. Saunders Co., 1988. P. 1723. THE MERCK MANUAL 15th ed: R. Berkow, et al: eds; Merck, Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, 1987. P. 132.