John Libbey Eurotext




Yaws in Pygmies: an indicator of poorer access to health care in Central Africa
Cahiers d'études et de recherches francophones / Santé . Volume 3, Number 2, 128-32, Mars-Avril 1993, Option
Résumé Article gratuit
Author(s) : Francis J. Louis, Patrick Miailhes, Arnaud Trébucq, Bertrand Maubert, Jean-Paul Louis
Summary : Yaws is due to Treponema pertenue, a pathogen that is endemic in inter-tropical zones, particularly warm and humid areas. Following mass treatment campaigns based on Beta-lactam antibiotics, yaws had virtually disappeared from Africa. However, the number of cases in Central Africa, most of which involve pygmies, has been increasing gradually over recent years and this raises a number of public health problems. After summarizing the epidemiologic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this disease, we analyze the various epidemiologic data now available. Although no firm conclusions can be drawn, the trends are alarming. This confirms the opinion of health workers in isolated rural areas. The causes of this increasing prevalence are fairly clear: poor hygiene, a lack of health care and the sacrifice of health funding on the altar of infrastructure requirements. Given the current economic crisis, it is unlikely that the situation will improve in the near future, despite the application of the Bamako Initiatives. Pending more adequate health policies, the authors recommend setting up provisional strategies.
Keywords :

Yaws in Pygmies: an indicator of poorer access to health care in Central Africa