YAWS

Microscopes have been used in many fields. There are microscopes for metals, forensics, blood, time pieces, gemstones, and in the medical and research field.

Darkfield light microscopes are used to illuminate subjects to make them brighter and the background darker. Darkfield microscopy technique used with darkfield light microscopes visualizes the contents of a blood cell in order to view its many components. Another use of darkfield light microscopes is in diagnosing Yaws. What, you might ask, is Yaws? Yaws is caused by the pathogenic microorganism Treponema pertenue and the disease is sometimes called Frambesia tropica. It is a chronic infection of the skin, joints and bones, according to the original article.

Treponema pertenue, when viewed under a microscope, is spiral-shaped closely resembling the microorganism that causes syphilis. Yaws, however, is not sexually-transmitted. The disease typically infects children living in warm, tropical, and rural areas like the Caribbean, West Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

A person infected with Yaws infects another person through direct contact with skin lesions. Incubation period is two to four weeks. During this time, a “mother yaw” develops into the skin area where the causative organism entered. The original article describes the “mother yaw” as a painless, raspberry-like growth with a group of papules seen on the site of infection and typically persisting for many months. When the mother yaw heals, another group of papules develop and may cause the fingers and bones to be inflamed and the person having a fever. A person infected with yaws can be disfigured and disabled because of the destruction of skin lesions. You can only imagine the pain and suffering of the person infected with Yaws.

Darkfield microscopy using darkfield light microscopes are used to examine samples of skin lesions of an infected person in order to diagnose Yaws. The microorganism is so small one needs a microscope to magnify and identify it. Darkfield light microscopes are specialized microscopes using darkfield microscopy to magnify cells and other specimens. There is no blood test that can diagnose Yaws, only examination of skin lesions. Because the microorganism causing Yaws is closely related to the microorganism causing syphilis, the patient may be positive for the blood test for syphilis.

According to the article, infected persons can be treated with a single dose of Penicillin G. The probability of curing yaws in the early stages in very high although the skin lesions will take a while before it heals. Disfigurement in the late stages cannot be reversed.

Because of the mass information dissemination of the prevention and cure for yaws during the 1950s and 1960s, the incidence of Yaws has significantly decreased.

Early detection and treatment for this infection is needed in order to minimize disfigurement and disability. Delayed treatment may cause nose, legs, palate, and upper jaw disfigurements. Good hygiene and safe health practices also help in preventing Yaws infection. Children are more susceptible to the pathogenic microorganism because of their underdeveloped immune system. Balanced diet and rest could also boost the immune system.