A look at the exotic diseases of southern Sudan

Jan 27, 2004 (AP) — While malaria, diarrhea, malnutrition and respiratory infections are biggest killers in southern Sudan – as in most of Africa – the area also has unusual concentration of diseases that are rare or nonexistent elsewhere:

– RIVER BLINDNESS: Caused by parasite that invades body, producing severe itching, skin lesions, swelling and often blindness and genital elephantiasis. World’s second leading infectious cause of blindness; afflicts about 18 million people, mostly in Africa.

– NODDING SYNDROME: Relatively new and baffling illness that attacks children, causing convulsions, stunted growth, mental retardation. So far only in southern Sudan. Cause unknown and can be fatal. About 300 cases recorded last two years.

– GUINEA WORM DISEASE: Contracted by drinking water contaminated with fleas, which carry worm larvae. Worm emerges from body year later through painful blister in skin, causing long-term suffering and sometimes crippling aftereffects. No treatment, but infection can be avoided with mesh water filter. Afflicts about 75,000 people, most in southern Sudan.

– SLEEPING SICKNESS: Fatal disease caused by protozoan, spread by tsetse flies. Symptoms include fever, joint pain, itching, confusion, uncontrollable sleeping, coma and death. Treatable if caught early, but most victims die before being diagnosed. In 1999, estimated 450,000 people stricken. In certain villages of Sudan, 20 percent-50 percent infected.

– VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS: Most severe form of leishmaniasis, disease known since ancient times. Almost always fatal if untreated. Caused by parasite spread by sandflies. Characterized by irregular bouts of fever, substantial weight loss, swelling of spleen and liver, anemia. Of 500,000 new cases each year, 90 percent in Sudan, Bangladesh, Brazil and India.

– BURULI ULCER: Bacterial infection from family of bacteria that causes tuberculosis and leprosy. True prevalence unknown and mode of transmission unclear. Starts as painless swelling in skin and causes severely deforming ulcers, mostly on limbs. Complications include loss of organs such as eye and breast; amputation of limbs and other permanent disabilities. Antibiotics don’t seem to work, so ulcers cut out.