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Yaws - Overview

Alternative Names

Frambesia tropica

Definition of Yaws:

Yaws is a long-term (chronic) infection that mainly affects the skin, bones, and joints.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Yaws is an infection caused by the spiral-shaped bacteria, Treponema pertenue. It is closely related to the bacteria that cause syphilis, but this disease is not sexually transmitted. Yaws mainly affects children in rural, warm, tropical areas, such as the Caribbean Islands, Latin America, West Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.

Yaws is transmitted by direct contact with the skin sores of infected people.

Reviewed last on: 8/1/2008
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Hook III EW. Nonsyphilitic Treponematoses. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 341.

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