Challenges in recognition and diagnosis of yaws in children in Papua New Guinea

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Jul;85(1):113-6. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0062.

Abstract

A global resurgence of yaws in developing countries highlights the need for reliable diagnostic criteria for this neglected infection. We conducted a clinical and serologic survey of 233 children less than 15 years of age who had clinically suspected yaws. A total of 138 (59%) cases were confirmed serologically, and 10 of 12 primary stage cases showed positive results for Treponema pallidum by a polymerase chain reaction assay that has not yet been validated for identification of yaws. A high proportion of cases (46%) were in the secondary stage; 92% of them had osteoarticular involvement, and only 24% had a Venereal Disease Research Laboratory titer greater than 1:32.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Papua New Guinea / epidemiology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prevalence
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Yaws / diagnosis*
  • Yaws / epidemiology