tungiasis; jiggers

Etiology

Tunga penetrans

Epidemiology

• found in Central & South America & in regions of tropical Africa
• adult chiggers live in sandy soil (size of pinpoint)

Pathology

• the female chigger attaches to & imbeds itself in the skin especially between the toes & underneath the toenail
• there it grows to the size of 3-4 mm
• after releasing eggs, the female dies resulting in an inflammatory response, with occasional secondary bacterial infection

Clinical manifestations

• lesions resemble a white pustule with a central black depression
• lesions may be pruritic or painful

Laboratory

• diagnosis of tungiasis is made by identifying the dark part of the chigger's abdomen (which display spiracles) protruding from the surface of an enlarging lesion

Complications

• tetanus
• bacterial infection
• autoamputation of toes

Management

• removal of intact flea with sterile needle or scalpel

More general terms

• parasitic infection

Additional terms

• Tunga penetrans (chigger or chigoe flea)