Leprosy Mailing List Blog: (LML) Online course on NTDs

Monday, June 18, 2018

(LML) Online course on NTDs

Leprosy Mailing List – June 18, 2018

Ref.: (LML) Online course on NTDs

From: Henk Eggens, Portugal; Kingsley Asiedu, Switzerland

Dear Pieter,

May I refer to my LML letter "Online course on NTDs" of June 1, 2018.

"Recognizing neglected tropical diseases through changes on the skin". A training guide for front-line health workers. Authors: WHO/Department of control of neglected tropical diseases. http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/resources/9789241513531/en/

Overview:

The skin of a patient is the first and most visible structure of the body that any health-care worker encounters during the course of an examination. To the patient, it is also highly visible, and any disease that affects it is noticeable and will have an impact on personal and social well-being. The skin is therefore an important entry point for both diagnosis and management. Many diseases of humans are associated with changes to the skin, ranging from symptoms such as itching to changes in colour, feel and appearance. The major neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) frequently produce such changes in the skin, re-enforcing the feelings of isolation and stigmatization experienced by patients affected by these diseases. Indeed, these are often the first signs that patients will notice, even before changes in internal organs or other systems occur.

The following NTDs (Related neglected tropical diseases) all have prominent skin changes at some stage in their evolution.

- Buruli ulcer

- Leishmaniasis

- Leprosy

- Lymphatic filariasis

- Mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis and other deep mycoses

- Onchocerciasis (River blindness)

- Scabies

- Yaws

This training guide explains how to identify the signs and symptoms of neglected tropical diseases of the skin through their visible characteristics. It also contains information on how to diagnose and manage common skin problems that front-line health workers may encounter.

The guide is intended for use by front-line health workers without specialist knowledge of skin diseases. Pathways for more detailed investigation and/or management are described but, often, this will involve referral to a specialist service.

Best wishes,

Henk

___________________________________________________________________

Dear All,

We are pleased to share with you the following information:

Recognizing neglected skin diseases: WHO publishes pictorial training guide

8 June 2018 | Geneva

Skin diseases are among the most common of human afflictions and many cause long-term disfigurement, disability and stigma. As part of an integrated approach and to make it easier for health workers to identify the signs and symptoms of several neglected tropical diseases of the skin, WHO has published a pictorial training guide.

This new approach can potentially reduce costs and cut down delays in diagnosis as well as promote skin health for all.

http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/en/

http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/news/WHO-publishes-pictorial-training-guide-on-neglected-skin-disease/en/

https://twitter.com/NTDworld/status/1005059256478064640

With best regards,

Dr Kingsley Asiedu

Global Buruli Ulcer Initiative & Global Yaws Eradication Programme

CDS/NTD/IDM

Innovative and Intensified Disease Management Unit

Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases

Communicable Diseases

World Health Organization