Publications by authors named "Naomi Riithi"
Infect Dis Poverty
November 2023
Article Synopsis
- Tungiasis, a neglected tropical disease, significantly impacts children's neurocognitive and mental health, highlighting the need for more research in this area.
- A study involving 454 school children in Kenya and Uganda assessed literacy, language, and memory among infected and uninfected participants, revealing that both mild and severe infections negatively affected cognitive skills.
- Results indicated that children with tungiasis scored lower in various cognitive measures, suggesting a detrimental effect on learning and behavior, particularly with increasing severity of infection.
Infect Dis Poverty
March 2023
Article Synopsis
- Tungiasis, caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans, is a neglected tropical disease prevalent in Kenya, primarily affecting school-age children, leading to painful inflammation, especially on the feet.
- A study conducted from February 2020 to April 2021 examined 3,532 school pupils for tungiasis and utilized infra-red thermography to assess inflammation, determining a new two-level classification of disease severity.
- The study found an overall prevalence of 9.3%, with higher infection rates among boys, in coastal regions (Kwale), and in homes without concrete floors; results indicated variances in infection rates depending on school closures related to COVID-19.
