Actinomycosis of the foot – A South African case

Abstract

Mycetoma is a chronic infection, characterised by severe disability and discomfort to patients. This condition is common throughout tropical regions of the world. The Indian subcontinent and north-east Africa, especially Sudan, bear the majority of the disease burden. Due to the limited resources and isolation of these areas, the condition is usually misdiagnosed or incorrectly managed. The World Health Organisation listed the condition as a “neglected disease” in 2013. The creation of the Mycetoma Research Centre (MRC) by the University of Khartoum in 1991 has greatly contributed to the current understanding of this disabling condition. We report a case of a 17-year-old boy from Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Uncommon in South Africa, this condition is easily misdiagnosed and mismanaged.^1,2

Keywords: Mycetoma, Madura foot, Actinomycetoma, Livingstone Hospital