tetracycline and Ectoparasitic-Infestations

This report describes two cases of palpebral localisation of Tunga penetrans.. Two Congolese patients (a 17-year-old black man and a 12-year-old black girl) presented with a history of itching and oedema of the left upper eyelid.. On inspection and slit lamp examination, the patients manifested the characteristic lesion of a white translucent papule with a central black pit. Scraping of the lesion revealed a gravid adult female flea, allowing the diagnosis of infection with the flea T. penetrans. After removal of the parasite, a complete local recovery occurred over a 1-week period with local application of tetracycline.. With the increase in international travelling, it is useful to know that eyelid localisation of T. penetrans is possible.

Topics: Adolescent; Animals; Child; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Edema; Eyelid Diseases; Eyelids; Female; Humans; Male; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; Pruritus; Siphonaptera; Tetracycline