Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37983269›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2023

Is there still yaws in Nigeria? Active case search in endemic areas of southern Nigeria.

Ngozi Ekeke, Francis S Iyama, Joseph N Chukwu, Kingsley Asiedu, Michael Marks, Babatunde Omotowo, Olanike Agwu-Umahi, Victor O Nvene, Shiloh Paul, Charles C Nwafor and 5 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.2field-weighted citation impact, top 45% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Yaws in Africa: Past, Present and Future.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.

Ngozi EkekeGerman Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (GLRA), Enugu, Nigeria.
Francis S IyamaGerman Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (GLRA), Enugu, Nigeria.ORCID 0009-0007-7600-4533
Joseph N ChukwuGerman Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (GLRA), Enugu, Nigeria.
Kingsley AsieduDepartment of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.
Michael MarksDepartment of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, England.
Babatunde OmotowoInstitute of Public Health, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Olanike Agwu-UmahiInstitute of Public Health, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Victor O NveneInstitute of Public Health, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Shiloh PaulNeglected Tropical Diseases Division, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria.
Charles C NwaforGerman Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (GLRA), Enugu, Nigeria.
Anthony O MekaGerman Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (GLRA), Enugu, Nigeria.
Chinwe C EzeGerman Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (GLRA), Enugu, Nigeria.
Okechukwu E EzeakileGerman Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (GLRA), Enugu, Nigeria.
Martin I NjokuGerman Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (GLRA), Enugu, Nigeria.
Ngozi N Murphy-OkpalaGerman Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (GLRA), Enugu, Nigeria.
Netherlands Leprosy Relief · NLUniversity of Nigeria · NGDrugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative · CHFederal Ministry of Health · NGLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine · GB

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundYaws is a disease caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, which is most commonly seen among children below 15 years. In the twentieth century yaws was endemic in Nigeria but eradication strategies markedly reduced the disease burden. Currently there is minimal data on the ongoing transmission of yaws in Nigeria, despite reports of confirmed yaws cases in neighbouring West African countries.

methodsWe conducted both community and school-based active yaws case search among school-aged children in southeast Nigeria. Children were screened by trained community volunteers. Suspected yaws cases were clinically reviewed and tested using rapid diagnostic serological tests.

resultsBetween February and May 2021, up to 28 trained community volunteers screened a total of 105,015 school children for yaws. Overall, 7,706 children with various skin lesions were identified. Eight (8) suspected cases of yaws were reported, reviewed and screened, but none was confirmed using rapid diagnostic tests. The four most common skin conditions identified were scabies (39%), papular urticaria (29%), tinea corporis (14%) and tinea capitis (12%).

conclusionsNo case of yaws was confirmed in this large population of children in south-east Nigeria. Continuous community awareness and yaws case finding activities have been recommended across Nigeria.

Indexed as

Treponema pallidumYawsChildHumansNigeriaTreponema

Identifiers

PMID37983269
PMCPMC10695364
OpenAlexW4388822279

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.