Tungiasis: A poorly-known diagnosis in Europe. Two paradigmatic cases from Portugal

Abstract

Tungiasis is a cutaneous parasitosis caused by infestation of the skin by gravid fleas of the genus Tunga, mainly Tunga penetrans. This flea is very common in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe, but not in Europe. The infestation is acquired by walking barefoot or lying in places where the flea is present, usually beaches or sandy soils. We report two unrelated cases of imported tungiasis in Portugal that presented to our clinic in the same week. We draw attention to one of the most common dermatological diseases in travelers returning from tropical countries, the diagnosis of which is primarily clinical but nonetheless is largely unfamiliar to clinicians attending those patients.