Jiggers! What are they? In America we know about ticks, fleas, chiggers, bed bugs, mosquitoes and other pesky insects -- but jiggers? I had never heard of them until I moved to Kenya. And trust me, you may not really want to know. In fact, this blog contains pictures that will most likely turn your stomach. But hopefully you can brace yourself and read it to the end, knowing that those who are suffering need your help, and through Starfish Charities, we are trying to make a difference in the lives of individuals.
In late November, Starfish Charities joined hands with Asira Foundation and AHADI (swahili for promise) Kenya to reach out to the people in an area of Western Kenya. Many individuals in that area have been afflicted with jiggers. Our venue was a Primary school (see sign below).
Fred did an excellent job explaining all about jiggers and proper treatment.
WHAT IS A JIGGER?
It is a small pin head sized flea found in sandy terrain of warm, dry climates. It feeds on warm blooded hosts including man, cats, dogs, rats, pigs, cattle and sheep. Poor people living in unhygienic, unsanitary dwellings get jigger infestations. Economic activity reduced by poor health due to infestation, makes people poorer and/or unable to rise out of poverty.
On treatment day, we needed water -- lots of water. These eager students carried water to our treatment area.
Meet Simon, one of our volunteers who agreed to register the individuals who required treatment. This information was necessary for followup during the days and weeks ahead. We couldn't have done this without the local volunteers.
Step one is identifying those who were affected. It wasn't difficult. When your feet look like those below, it is not only very painful, but almost impossible to wear shoes.
The impregnated female flea feeds by burrowing into the skin of the host under the toe or fingernails, resulting in a sore. As the flea continues to feed on the host's blood, it enlarges and forms a round sack full of eggs with the shape and size of a pea. The flea releases the eggs and is slowly sloughed from the host's skin. The holes you see are where the pod or sack has worked its way to the surface, or in many cases, where the individual has picked at it with a needle or pin -- mostly likely unsanitary and causing a greater problem with infection.
After the affected ones were identified, the first order of business was to get their dirty feet washed. It had rained the night before, so many showed up barefooted, caked in red soil.
This man is the Principal of this school and was very excited when Franklin responded positively to conducting this Jigger's treatment in his school. The infestation causes many students to miss school or drop out all together.
Although jiggers are normally found in the feet, it is not limited to feet. You can literally get them anywhere on the body, but most of what we saw were feet, with a few individuals also having them on their hands.
After the feet are cleaned, the toenails must be trimmed as much as possible.
This just looks like a mud encrusted foot, but the truth is it was one of our worst cases. The mud was embedded in the crevices created by the jiggers. His feet were washed several times before treatment could happen.
You can imagine how difficult walking would be. They contort their feet to stay off the affected areas as much as possible, but the end result it the feet begin turning outwards as the infestation grows worse and worse.
This child has lost most of his toenails due to the jiggers under the nails.
After washing the feet, and clipping the nails, the next step is to soak in a solution of potassium permanganate. This purple solution is like magic! They soak for 15 minutes in this solution, which begins the process of killing the embedded jiggers.
No worries about cross contamination, so many shared basins as they soaked.
After soaking for 15 minutes, they had to "dry" for 15 minutes. Then they were moved to another area for the next step.
The final step is to smear their feet with Vaseline. This not only softens the feet, but it helps to smother the jiggers. This treatment is supposed to be repeated three times a day for two weeks.
This is a jigger sack in the palm of a worker's hand.
This poor child could hardly walk and was by far, the worst one we saw that day.
This is a month later, after treatment. Although it still isn't completely gone, the relief to this child is immeasurable.
Another shot of the top of his foot. His nails will have to regrow, but with eradication of the jiggers in his home area, treatment followup, and better hygiene, he should fully recover.
These are the treatment tools and medications needed. The Sevin dust is for the home treatment area.
The purple solution is poured into five liter containers for individuals to take home for the followup treatment.
These backpack sprayers are needed to fumigate the home areas twice a year to help eradicate the infestation. Very few families in these areas can afford the treatment for the soil or treatment for jiggers. They depend on well wishers, or in most cases just continue to suffer.
I have to tell you this really pricked my heart. This sprayer is only $30 per sprayer. We need at least 10 to start with. Then the Icon solution to put in the sprayer is approximately $10 per household. This can quickly run into more money than these communities can imagine. If you would like to help make a difference to these hurting individuals in these communities, please contact me at rabquilt@yahoo.com and share with me how you can help. Or send donations directly to Global Outreach International, P. O. Box 1, Tupelo, MS 38802 for Rhonda Baxter and indicate it is for Jiggers Eradication. Any help would be appreciated.
