Jiggers

Tunga penetrans, more commonly known as the jigger or sand flea, is transmitted from a sandy, dusty, and unsanitary environment rather than from person to person. The impregnated female Tunga burrows into the skin of a human host and begins to lay eggs typically on the soles of the feet and around toenails. Heavy jigger infestation goes beyond mere discomfort and can lead to loss of toe and fingernails, severe inflammation and infection, deformity, amputation, and even death.

We treat the current cellulitis of the hands and feet with antibiotics while physically removing as many larvae as possible. After scrubbing the hands and feet with clean soap and water, we apply ointment to suffocate the remaining larvae. This is done everyday until all evidence of infection is gone. The following photos show the progression of this process.