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Tungiasis is a skin infection caused by the burrowing flea Tunga penetrans, mainly found in hot and dry climates. It causes painful lesions on the feet and lower legs, which can lead to severe complications if left untreated. Treatment options include medication, cryotherapy, and physical removal of the flea. Christopher Columbus’s crew first reported cases of tungiasis in Haiti in the 1500s.
Tungiasis is a medical condition in which a person’s skin becomes infected with a type of flea. The flea burrows under the skin, causing painful lesions. These lesions mainly occur on the feet and lower legs of the patients, as the flea does not jump very high. A variety of treatment options are available, however lesions can also heal on their own. If not, a doctor can remove the flea or apply medication to that area of skin.
Christopher Columbus’s crew on the Santa Maria first reported cases of tungiasis in Haiti in the 1500s. Later Spanish conquistadors were also afflicted with this skin condition, to the point that they had difficulty walking. Researchers have now pinpointed a specific type of flea responsible for the disease: the burrowing flea, or Tunga penetrans, also called the sand flea. The Tunga flea prefers dry, hot climates and is native to the Caribbean and West Indies. Those who live or travel in Latin America, Africa, Pakistan and India can also take this little hitchhiker on their feet.
When the Tunga flea first burrows under the skin, it leaves behind a tiny black dot. Shortly thereafter, patients will notice a widespread area of redness with an enlarged blackhead in the center. Over the next few weeks, tungiasis causes a distinct white lump on the skin, about the size of a pea. Many people can suffer from multiple injuries.
The skin surrounding the lesion will often be red and swollen. Many patients report itching and pain, which can sometimes be severe. If tungiasis is left untreated or the patient suffers from a severe infection, life-threatening complications and secondary infections can develop. Ulcers can form, along with gangrene, which can lead to loss of toes, feet, or legs. Tungiasis can also lead to cellulitis, tetanus and death.
Some patients can recover on their own without the risk of life-threatening complications. The Tunga flea dies in about two weeks and will eventually leave the body as the old skin cells are shed. Otherwise, patients may respond to applying a thick layer of wax to the lesion, which can suffocate the flea. Your doctor may also apply antiparasitic medications to your skin, which can include thiabendazole, ivermectin, and metriphonate.
In severe cases, it may be necessary to treat tungiasis with cryotherapy, which involves freezing the lesion with liquid nitrogen. Your doctor may also recommend physically removing the flea. This may involve opening the lesion or removing it completely.
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