Overview of Yaw

The skin is the most significant part of the human body that speaks a lot of things about the whole body. Likewise, it performs varieties of functions: excretory functions, sensitive functions, and protective functions.

The skin has numerous medical conditions that develop based on varying risk factors. Skin composition has some defensive systems about melanin and keratin. Melanin is a dark pigment that wards off the sun’s negative impact produced by ultraviolet rays. At the same time, keratin coordinates the flexibility of your skin.

This article keeps you informed about yaw disease, its mode of transmission, risk factors, signs and symptoms, the complications, diagnosis, preventions, and treatments.

Facts About Yaw Skin Infection

This rare skin infection has earned records in a few countries. Globally, it is less recognized. It is not commonly discussed unless it is diagnosed in a community.

It is a bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Furthermore, Yaw is officially referred to as endemic Treponematoseses. It is also called Pian, Frambesia Tropica, Parangi, and Paru.

The name ‘Yaw’ was derived from different nationalities. Its appellation originates from various settlements: in the Caribbean, French, and Africa. The Caribbeans understand ‘Yaya’ to mean sore in their language.

The French name is ‘framboise,’ meaning raspberry, while the Africans call it ‘yaw’ after the appearance of the lesion on the skin, meaning berry. Other names include granuloma, tropical, poly papilloma tropical, and phimosis.

Also, from several research studies, it was characterized to be in the same path as syphilis (venereal syphilis) because of its causative agent. Take note that it is not a sexually transmittable disease.

This chronic disease chooses to affect only humans. It majorly alters adults and children between the age of 2 to 15, and the relative frequency of its occurrence seems higher in children of age 6 to 10.

Thousands of cases have been reported in rustic areas. It is not a gender-based disease, but it targets both males and females. With years of experience, the World Health Organization has successively brought down the reported case to 90%.

Children living in rural settlements with limited facilities and poor health provisions have the highest risk of developing Yaw. During their playing time, they easily transfer it to other kids while playing.

The moment you get infected, it gradually develops in your body. The bacterium stays on your body till it starts its incubation, which goes for 9 to 90 days. It is certainly transmitted through an infected open wound.

Yaw disease affects specific parts of the body: the joints, skin, bone, and cartilage. It forms bumps on the surface of your skin as a lesion. It enters your body system and remains there for weeks, months, and possibly years before it gets worse. One of the uncomfortable sites of infection is the sole of the feet.

Yaw requires urgent medical attention. It can develop into an ulcer or body disfigurement.

Mode of Transmission

Yaw is transmitted only by skin contact. It happens to both children and adults, but children of age 2 to 15 years of age are more susceptible.

When fluids from the wound (cuts or abrasion) of an infected individual touch another, then it becomes transmitted. Also, it can be passed from a mother to the baby during delivery.

Risk Factors

There are several factors that contribute to the risk of getting infected. They include

• Genetic factor
• Residence zone (endemic areas)
• Age (children of age 2 to 15 years)
• Wound
• Low socioeconomic status
• Poor sanitation and hygiene
• Overpopulation

Signs and Symptoms of Yaw

The signs and symptoms are divided into 3 developmental stages. They are the primary, secondary and tertiary yaws.

• Primary YYaw is a painless stage where a mother yaw lump develops. It affects the legs and ankles. The papilloma infection might develop into ulcers, whereby the mother yaw spreads over the skin surface. It gives a swollen lesion appearance. It occurs for 9 to 90 days.
• Secondary Yaw, which is the second form of endemic Treponematoses, happens for months to 2 years. It continues from the pre-existing mother Yaw. This stage develops into the blood and lymph, thereby capable of causing serious complications. It deeply influences the skin and the bone. The lesion grows on the skin while the bone develops periostitis. Also, it is widely spread on the palm of the hand and the sole of the feet. Secondary Yaw is the most challenging phase. It. It is easily transmitted at this phase. Here, it becomes ulcerative. It causes swollen fingers, night pain, fever, swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, and thickening of the skin and the affected bones. In most cases, secondary Yaw reoccurs. It relapses and becomes active, which impacts the armpit, mouth, and anus region.
• Tertiary Yaw is the final developmental stage of treponema disease. It stays in the body for years before it happens. It develops into hyperkeratosis: thickening of the palm and sole. Furthermore, it causes discomfort in the joint and can cause periostitis. Before tertiary Yaw, there are always numerous relapses of the primary and secondary Yaw, respectively. Tertiary YYaw has few reported cases.

Complications

The complication of yaw disease develops in the body, if not treated, can become a dilemma. Gangosa, which is formerly known as Rhinopharyngitis multilane.

It is a rare detrimental illness of Yaw. It deeply impacts the soft and the hard palate, nose, and nasopharynx. Likewise, it causes the damaging to cartilage and soft tissue.

The Diagnosis

The examination of endemic treponematoses is always a clinical one. A lot of effort and advances have been made into the realization and actualization of this disease. Likewise, its limitations can’t be understated. There are numerous approaches that exist basically for detecting treponema spirochete.

Basically, testing for Yaw depends on the level of infection.

• Clinical assessment: this method of diagnosing is recommended for an onset identification of Yaw. It is purely the examination of the patient under some factors. Checking whether there’s a preceding case in the community.
• Another form of testing, which is a little advanced, is the dark field microscopy test. This is used on early lesions or ulcerative lesions. It provides a close examination by visualizing the spirochete with a microscope, thus providing a clearer assessment.
• Also, an easier medium to approach Yaw is the use of blood tests. There are various ways you can carry out a blood test which is formally regarded as a serologic test; Treponema Pallidum Particle Agglutination TPPA and Treponema Pallidum Hemagglutination TPHA specify the specific antibodies of treponema in the body. Likewise, Venereal Disease Research Laboratory VDRL and Rapid Plasma Reagin RPR reveal the precise details of the active disease. It is usually recommended to confirm the cure after treatments.
• In rural areas where health facilities are less supplied, they can depend on this means of diagnosis. Rapid Diagnostic Test RDT is an efficient approach for getting a whole community on record. It helps with community inspection.
• Polymerase Chain Reaction and Sequencing is the most trusted diagnosing technique. It contains the use of the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test NAAT, which is more accurate for detecting the progress of treponema disease. However, the identification of treponema with NAAT uses genetic materials.
• Yaws and syphilis are always difficult to differentiate because of their treponema spirochete. So, fortunately, the serological test gives a clearer examination that distinguishes the two.

Treatment and Prevention of Yaw

Yaw disease has no vaccine. It gets treated with medications. Benzathine Penicillin and azithromycin are the two effective drugs. They are antibiotic agents that inhibit the growth of spirochete of treponema infection.

Benzathine Penicillin is more effective with intramuscular injection than the oral dose. The dose includes 600,000 units for an adult and 1,200,000 units for children. It might result in allergic reactions, but tetracycline, erythromycin, or doxycycline are alternatives. Azithromycin is an oral dose of 30 mg/kg.

The treatment of Yaw is always a mass treatment where azithromycin is given to children in endemic zones.

Preventing Yaw is an uncomplicated task. Watch out for the risk factors and causes attached to it. Literally, it is more advisable to get an early diagnosis in order to seek immediate treatment to avoid complications.

Conclusion

In conclusion, your body is your greatest asset. This article has informed you about yaws. So, the ball is now left in your court to take the necessary decisions and steps. Stay free from yaws and retain your healthy skin. Your health is your wealth.