Geographical distribution and prevalence of podoconiosis in Rwanda: a cross-sectional country-wide survey.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Podoconiosis is a type of tropical lymphoedema that causes massive swelling of the lower limbs. The disease is associated with both economic insecurity, due to long-term morbidity-related loss of productivity, and intense social stigma. Reliable and detailed data on the prevalence and distribution of podoconiosis are scarce. We aimed to fill this data gap by doing a nationwide community-based study to estimate the number of cases throughout Rwanda.

Methods

We did a population-based cross-sectional survey to determine the national prevalence of podoconiosis. A podoconiosis case was defined as a person with bilateral, asymmetrical lymphoedema of the lower limb present for more than 1 year, who tested negative for Wuchereria bancrofti antigen (determined by Filariasi

SUBMITTER: Deribe K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6465958 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature