Prevalence of neglected tropical skin diseases in institutional and community settings in Togo

 

Estimated start and end dates: 1 June 2021 to 31 December 2021

Main objective: Perform dermatological consultations in two schools and in one community, to identify the burden of neglected tropical skin diseases (NTDs)

Secondary objectives:

  • Carry out skin examinations of the pupils in two schools just outside the capital city of Lomé

  • Carry out skin examinations of the population in a rural community setting in north-east Togo (Binah)

  • Examine the data collected to identify the prevalence of cutaneous NTDs in each context

  • Consider the presence of stigma, where a skin infection is diagnosed

  • Disseminate the results at local and national level in Togo to health stakeholders including the Ministry of Health

  • Disseminate the results at international level to health actors and advocates such as the NTD group of the World Health Organization.

Study team: The project will be led and delivered by Togo partners. These include:

  • Professor Bayaki SAKA, University of Lomé and Dermatologist at the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital (Togo Principal investigator and study co-ordinator)

  • Also part of the study team are Pr Koussake KOMBATE, Pr Abas Mouhari-Toure, Dr Sefako Abla AKAKPO, Dr Noude Julienne TECLESSOU, Pr Palokinam PITCHE

  • Within the UK, Dr Michael Head (University of Southampton) and Dr Steve Walker (LSHTM) will provide further support.

Ethical approval: We have secured ethical approval from both the Togo Bioethics Committtee (5 May 2021, reference 012/2021), and also the University of Southampton ethics committee (20 May 2021, reference 63498).

Skin NTDs: The project will examine the following diseases, which are part of the World Health Organization's list of cutaneous NTDs (https://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/skin-ntds/en/)

• Buruli ulcer

• Cutaneous leishmaniasis

• Post-kala-azar cutaneous leishmaniasis

• Leprosy

• Lymphatic filariasis (lymphedema and hydrocele)

• Mycetoma

• Onchocerciasis

• Scabies

• Yaws

• Fungal diseases

The study will also record any secondary complications observed such as bacterial superinfection.

Funding: Supported by a business development and networking grant of £10,000 from the Clinical Informatics Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK.

Study contacts:

In Togo, Dr Saka - barthelemysaka@yahoo.fr

In the UK, Dr Michael Head - m.head@soton.ac.uk

The study Appendix can be found here.