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yaws (frambesia)
Epidemiology:
- endemic non-venereal spirochete infection with Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue
- humid equatorial countries where transmission is favored by scanty clothing & skin trauma
Clinical manifestations:
- typical primary, secondary & tertiary disease
- initial mucocutaneous lesion followed by diffuse secondary lesions, a latent period, & late destructive disease
- primary: red papule at site of innoculation that enlarges, erodes, & ulcerates
- secondary:
- diffuse secondary lesions that resemble the primary lesion
- axillae, skinfolds, & mucosal surfaces
- heal slowly & may recur
- tertiary:
- a latent period prior to late destructive disease 5-10 years later
- periostitis (particularly of the tibia)
- proliferative exostoses of the nasal portion of the maxillary bone
- juxta-articular nodules
- gummatous skin lesions
- mutilating facial ulcers, particularly around the nose
Laboratory:
- see syphilis
- morphologically & serologically indistinguishable from the agent of syphilis Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum
Management:
- penicillin (see syphilis)
Specific
gangosa; rhinopharyngitis mutilans
tertiary yaws
General
syphilis
References
- Cunha BA
Bejel, Pinta, and Yaws
Merck Manual
http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/sec14/ch174/ch174b.html