home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
CD-ROM Today (UK) (Spanish) 15
/
CDRT.iso
/
dp
/
0434
/
04344.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-01-17
|
6KB
|
153 lines
$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.