The foot bug is a small parasite that enters the skin, mainly in the feet, where it develops quickly. It is also called sand bug, pig bug, dog bug, jatecuba, matacanha, sand flea or tunga, for example, depending on the region.
This is a skin infection caused by a small flea, called Tunga penetrans , which is able to infiltrate and live for several weeks on the skin, causing a small lesion that can become inflamed and cause symptoms such as pain, itching and redness.
To treat this infection, it is necessary to remove this parasite from the skin, preferably at a health center, with a sterile needle, however, creams based on camphor or salicylated petroleum jelly can be used to facilitate treatment, or options of remedies, such as o Thiabendazole or Ivermectin in tablet or ointment, for example, guided by the doctor in case of need.
However, the only way to control and prevent new infections is through prevention, avoiding walking barefoot in soils with sand and mud, and not frequent environments with garbage and poor sanitation.
Main symptoms
The infection causes lesions that occur mainly on the soles of the feet, around the nails and in the spaces between the toes, although it also happens on the hands or anywhere else on the body.
In the first 30 minutes after penetrating the skin, the parasite produces initial symptoms, such as a red spot of about 1 mm and mild local pain. Then, the symptoms that can appear on the skin over the days are:
- Rash on the skin, with a black spot in the center and white around; Itching; Pain and discomfort; Presence of transparent or yellowish discharge, if there is inflammation or local infection.
After about 3 weeks, and after having expelled all the eggs, the parasite can spontaneously leave or be killed and eliminated by the immune system, however it can leave residues that can remain on the skin for months.
To diagnose and confirm the presence of the foot bug, the doctor or nurse should only assess the characteristics of the wound, and no further tests are necessary.
How to get
The places where the eggs and parasites that cause insects live, are mainly the soils with sand and little light, such as close to backyards, gardens, pigsties or mounds of manure. The flea measures about 1 mm and can also be in the hair of dogs and rats, feeding on its blood.
When the female is full of eggs, she tries to penetrate the skin of other host animals, such as the pig or people, where it is infiltrated, leaving the posterior part out, which gives rise to the black spot of the lesion, in order to eliminate the eggs and feces.
During this period, which lasts 2 to 3 weeks, the female can reach the size of a pea due to the development of the eggs, which are being released to the outside. After that, the insect dies, its carapace is expelled and the skin heals again, and the eggs deposited in the environment become larvae in three to four days, which will grow and become new fleas that can again infect more people.
How to remove the bug
Even if the parasite is only temporarily on the skin, it is very important that treatment be done, both to avoid complications such as bacterial infections, loss of nails, ulcer formation and deformities in the fingers, and to prevent new eggs from being free in the environment. and can infect other people.
Treatment options are:
- Withdrawing of the foot bug, with a cutting needle or scalpel, which is the main form, made in a health post, after cleaning the wound and sterilizing the materials; Use of medications, such as Tiabendazole or Ivermectin, prescribed by the doctor, especially when there is a large number of bug in the body; Use of ointments, based on camphor or salicylated petroleum jelly, or with the same active ingredients as vermifuge.
The doctor can guide the use of antibiotics, such as Cephalexin, in case of infection by bacteria. In addition, vaccination for tetanus is indicated in all cases of insects, as perforation in the skin can be a gateway for the bacteria of this disease.
How to avoid catching
To prevent the bug, you should always wear closed shoes in places with sand and where many domestic animals pass by, such as dogs and cats.
In addition, it is important to take domestic animals to the veterinarian to assess whether they are infected with the flea, and to start appropriate treatment so that the disease does not spread to people.
Another common disease that is contracted from worms infected animals is the geographic bug, which causes sores, with redness and intense itching, especially on the feet. Find out more about this infection in geographical bug symptoms.
