Jiggers

One of our students is now a Clinical Officer but still looking for work other than the occasional locum assignment. He came 'home' from Nairobi for a funeral and spent the week doing the rounds of local clinics and hospitals. While at the funeral he found a girl unable to walk with her feet and legs eaten away with 'jiggers' They live in the dust, lay eggs preferably close to the nail. The eggs hatch and feed on the flesh. If untreated it can lead to the loss of feet and limbs. The treatment consists of strong disinfectant and then easing out each larva with  a pin. Tedious, time consuming and painful. He costed out the treatment for us and has gone off to treat the girl, her little brother and the whole house.