Abstract
Buruli ulcer (BU), caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, one of the neglected tropical diseases, is a necrotizing disease of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and bone and the third most common mycobacterial disease, after tuberculosis and leprosy. The disease presents a clinical polymorphism which does not always make diagnosis easy, especially for healthcare providers working outside areas endemic for BU. Moreover, in Africa, the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis may be challenging due to the presence of other diseases with similar presentation. However, several criteria allow to suspect a BU case. They include:
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Presence of a chronically developing lesion (several weeks or months), i.e., a “wound that will not heal”.
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No fever or regional lymphadenopathy.
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Typical nodular, papular, indurated plaque, or edematous lesion.
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One or more relatively painless chronic ulcers with undermined edges or a depressed scar.
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Swelling over a painful joint, suggesting bone involvement.
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Patient age < 15 years (in Africa).
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Patient living or traveling in an endemic zone.
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Johnson, R.C., Phanzu, D.M., Guédénon, A., Portaels, F. (2022). Clinical Features of Buruli Ulcer. In: Nunzi, E., Massone, C., Portaels, F. (eds) Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89704-8_42
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89704-8_42
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