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Yaws history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

History and Symptoms

History and Symptoms

After 2 – 4 weeks of infection, the person develops a sore called a “mother yaw” where bacteria entered the skin. The sore is a growth that may be tan or reddish and looks like a raspberry. It is usually painless but does cause itching. These sores may last for months. More sores may appear shortly before or after the mother yaw heals as the person scratches or spreads the bacteria from the mother yaw to uninfected skin. Eventually the skin sores heal. Other symptoms include:

In the advanced stage, sores on the skin and bones can lead to severe disfigurement and disability. This occurs in up to 1 in 5 people who do not get antibiotic treatment.

References

References


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