The sarcopsyllose or tungiasis is a parasitic skin disease caused by the chip-chewing (Tunga penetrans). It is common in tropical areas and especially in Madagascar. The diagnosis is easy and is based on the detection of small chip under the skin as a dermal swelling and rounded whitish. There are many forms with profuse skin lesions and locoregional complications. Treatment of simple form is to extract the parasitic. In complicated forms, thiabendazole may be used.
Pregnant females burrow under the skin of exposed areas (especially in the feet) and metamorphose into egg pocket, they gradually lay outside the host body. They then cause itching. Injuries caused have the appearance of white buttons 5 to 10 mm at the center of which we can observe a black spot which is the exposed part of the chip (legs, spiracles and reproductive organs.
If the chip is not extracted in time, it can cause infections or other dangerous complications, including
Alopecia