Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which Doctor Should I Consult for Buruli Ulcer?

Buruli ulcer can be treated by a surgeon.

2. Can Buruli ulcer heal by itself?

Spontaneous healing has been reported in many cases of Buruli ulcer and protective immunity could be the reason. Scarring may occur depending on the extent of damage. However, the possibility of relapse is very high.

3. Which are the areas or countries endemic to Buruli ulcer causing bacteria?

Most of the cases of Buruli ulcer have been found to occur in tropical and subtropical regions. WHO has listed countries where the disease has been found to be endemic. The list includes, but is not limited to, the following countries:

Africa:

Ghana
Benin
Democratic Republic of Congo
Guinea
Liberia
Nigeria
Sierra Leone

Western Pacific:

Japan
China
Malaysia
Papua New Guinea
Australia

South East Asia:

Indonesia
Sri Lanka

America:

French Guiana
Brazil
Peru
Mexico

4. What is the time between the infection of the bacterium and the appearance of the nodules?

The beginning of the formation of lesion of Buruli ulcer can vary from one to nine months from the period of inoculation of the bacteria. Sadly, since symptoms are not very prominent and the lesions are painless, they are noticed only after a great extent of damage is done.

5. Where was Buruli ulcer identified for the first time?

Buruli ulcer was identified in 1897 by Sir Albert Cook at Mengo Hospital in Uganda. Professor Peter MacCallum and his colleagues, from Bairnsdale district, Australia, wrote a detailed description of the disease in 1948. They were the first to identify Mycobacterium ulcerans as the causative agent of the disease. Many cases had been reported in Buruli County in Uganda in 1960s and the disease got its name from the place.

Published on Jun 18, 2015

Citations

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APA

Himabindu Venkatakrishnan. (2015, June 18). Buruli Ulcer - Frequently Asked Questions / FAQ's . Medindia. Retrieved on May 26, 2022 from https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/buruli-ulcer-faqs.htm.
MLA

Himabindu Venkatakrishnan. "Buruli Ulcer - Frequently Asked Questions / FAQ's ". Medindia. May 26, 2022. <https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/buruli-ulcer-faqs.htm>.
Chicago
Himabindu Venkatakrishnan. "Buruli Ulcer - Frequently Asked Questions / FAQ's ". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/buruli-ulcer-faqs.htm. (accessed May 26, 2022).
Harvard
Himabindu Venkatakrishnan. 2021. Buruli Ulcer - Frequently Asked Questions / FAQ's . Medindia, viewed May 26, 2022, https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/buruli-ulcer-faqs.htm.