Buruli ulcer is a skin disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans , which leads to the death of skin cells and surrounding tissues, and can also affect bone. This infection is more common in tropical regions, such as Brazil, but is found especially in Africa and Australia.
Although the form of transmission of this disease is not known, the main possibilities are that it is transmitted by drinking contaminated water or by the bite of some mosquitoes or insects.
When Buruli's ulcer is not properly treated with antibiotics, it can continue to develop, causing deformities that cannot be corrected or generalized infection of the organism.
Main signs and symptoms
Buruli ulcers usually appear on the arms and legs and the main signs and symptoms of the disease are:
- Swelling in the skin; Wound that grows slowly without causing pain; Skin with a darker color, especially around the wound; Swelling of the arm or leg, if the wound appears in the limbs.
The ulcer begins with a painless nodule that slowly progresses to the ulcer. In most cases, the wound that appears on the skin is smaller than the region affected by the bacteria and, therefore, the doctor may need to remove an area larger than the wound to expose the entire affected region and make the appropriate treatment.
If Buruli's ulcer is not treated, it can lead to the occurrence of some complications, such as deformities, secondary bacterial and bone infections, for example.
How to confirm the diagnosis
When there is a suspicion of being infected with Mycobacterium ulcerans , it is recommended to consult a dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment. Generally, the diagnosis is made only by observing the symptoms and assessing the person's history, especially when living in regions where there is a high number of cases.
But the doctor can also order a biopsy to evaluate a piece of affected tissue in the laboratory to confirm the presence of the bacterium or to perform microbiological culture from ulcer secretion to identify the microorganism and possible secondary infections.
How the treatment is done
In most cases, the infection is identified when it is poorly developed and affects an area of less than 5 cm. In these cases, treatment is done only with the use of antibiotics, such as Rifampicin associated with Streptomycin, Clarithromycin or Moxifloxacin, for 8 weeks.
In cases where the bacteria affects a more extensive region, the doctor may need to have surgery to remove all the affected tissue and even correct deformations, in addition to making treatment with antibiotics. In these cases, assistance from a nurse may also be necessary to treat the wound in an appropriate manner, thereby accelerating healing.
