Buruli ulcer - Management of Mycobacterium ulcerans disease
Summary
This manual provides an authoritative guide to the diagnosis and clinical management of Buruli ulcer, a mycobacterial disease that causes immense suffering and crippling deformities in a growing number of tropical countries. Addressed to district health care providers, the manual aims to facilitate a better understanding of this difficult disease, its clinical presentation, and its surgical management.
A comprehensive protocol, adapted to each form and stage of the disease, is presented together with comments on the levels of resources and capabilities needed to shorten the length of treatment, to prevent complications, and to minimize undesired sequelae, and thus to obtain the best possible outcome for each patient.
As surgical treatment is presently the definitive management strategy, the manual includes detailed information on specific surgical procedures for both non-ulcerative and ulcerative forms of the disease, and for complications and sequelae. Chapters on nursing care, care in the community, and rehabilitation are also included. Throughout, numerous colour photographs and line drawings are used to enhance the manual’s value as a training and reference tool.
Methods for the laboratory diagnosis of Mycobacterium ulcerans disease are covered in a companion volume, Diagnosis of Mycobacterium ulcerans disease: A manual for health care providers.