Yaws

Alternative names:

bouba; frambesia; parangi; patek; pian; tropica

Treatment:

A single, large dose of penicillin G is given by intramuscular injection. This cures the infection.

Expectations (prognosis):

Yaws lesions will heal slowly even without treatment, but this may take 6 months or more and recurrence is common. Before healing, the lesions destroy soft tissue and bone.

Complications:

Yaws can cause gross destruction of the skin, bones, and joints. This can cause deformities of the legs, nose, palate, and upper jaw. The disorder is crippling if untreated. Approximately 10% of the people with yaws will develop widespread tissue damage.

Calling your health care provider:

You have been in an area endemic for yaws and develop persistent, ulcerating sores anywhere on the body.