Buruli ulcer: training of health workers at national and district levels on skin-NTDs
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Buruli ulcer is a chronic debilitating disease Mycobacterium ulcerans that mainly affects the skin and sometimes bone. The mode of transmission to humans is unknown. Currently, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to minimizing morbidity, costs and prevent long-term disability.
This course is intended to provide basic information for front-line health workers to be able to implement the recommended control measures to minimize the negative impact of Buruli ulcer on populations.
Photo credits: Yves Barogui
Overview: Buruli ulcer, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is a chronic debilitating disease that affects mainly affects the skin and sometimes bone. The disease has been reported in 33 countries although 15 of them regularly report to WHO.
The aim of the course is to provide information about Buruli ulcer, epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and public health measures to increase knowledge and skills of national programme managers and front-line health workers to address this disease.
What you’ll learn
Describe geographical distribution and trends of Buruli ulcer
Explain the clinical presentations
Describe laboratory diagnosis
Explain how to do treatment and care
List control strategies and the surveillance system, and
Describe the integrated skin-NTD approach.
Course contents
Module 1: Introduction to NTDs, to skin NTDs and to Buruli ulcer:
This introductory module gives an overview of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), skin-NTDs, and Buruli ulcer. By the end of this module, you will: explain general information related to NTDs, skin NTDs and a historical overview of Buruli ulcer.
Module 2: Epidemiology:
By the end of this module, you will describe the distribution, burden and causative organism, risk factors and transmission of the disease.
Module 3: Clinical and differential diagnosis:
By the end of this module, you will: describe the clinical features to guide diagnosis, category of lesions, the impact of HIV on the progression of the disease, paradoxical reactions, and the common differential diagnosis.
Module 4: Laboratory diagnosis:
By the end of this module, you will: explain the importance of laboratory confirmation of cases, different laboratory tests, methods of sample collection, storage, and transport to the reference laboratories.
Module 5: Treatment, complications and referrals:
By the end of this module, you will: outline the treatment to give to patients, dosages, side effects, when surgery is indicated, wound care, physiotherapy, and referrals of complicated cases.
Module 6: Stigmatization and socioeconomic impact. Public health interventions:
By the end of this module, you will: explain the negative impact Buruli ulcer can have on patients and their families, the cost of treatment, disability, and stigma associated with it. You will also describe the public health measures aimed at reducing the impact of Buruli ulcer populations.
Module 7: Surveillance:
By the end of this module, you will: recall surveillance definitions, forms used to record and report Buruli ulcer cases, key indicators, and how to analyze and report on data.
