<unk>  () is an infectious disease characterized by the development of painless open wounds. The disease is limited to certain areas of the world, most cases occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa and Australia. The first sign of infection is a small painless nodule or area of swelling, typically on the arms or legs. The nodule grows larger over days to weeks, eventually forming an open<unk> . Deep<unk> s can cause scarring of muscles and tendons, resulting in permanent disability.<unk>  is caused by skin infection with bacteria called Mycobacterium<unk> ans. The mechanism by which M.<unk> ans is transmitted from the environment to humans is not known,<unk> t may involve the bite of an aquatic insect or the infection of open wounds. Once in the skin, M.<unk> ans grows and releases the toxin mycolactone, which blocks the normal function of cells, resulting in tissue death and immune suppression at the site of the<unk> . The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends treating<unk>  with a combination of the antibiotics rifampicin and clarithromycin. With antibiotic administration and proper wound care, small<unk> s typically heal within six months. Deep<unk> s and those on sensitive body sites may require surgery to remove dead tissue or repair scarred muscles or joints. Even with proper treatment,<unk>  can take months to heal. Regular cleaning and dressing of wounds aids healing and prevents secondary infections. In 2018, WHO received 2,713 reports of<unk>  globally. Although rare, it typically occurs in rural areas near slow-moving or stagnant water. The first written description of the disease is credited to Albert Ruskin Cook in 1897 at Mengo Hospital in Uganda. Fifty years later, the causative bacterium was isolated and identified by a group at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. In 1998, WHO established the Global<unk>  Initiative to coordinate global efforts to eliminate<unk> . WHO considers it a neglected tropical disease.
Buruli ulcer
Lichen planus
Callous ulcer
Lichen sclerosus
Kangri ulcer
Lipschütz ulcer
Stercoral ulcer
Melanosis coli