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What is Podoconiosis (Mossy Foot Disease)?
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Podoconiosis is a disease that manifests itself as a massive swelling of the feet and legs. It is commonly called Mossy Foot disease because its occurrence results in skin that becomes very rough and bumpy and changes to look like moss.
With recurrent infection the condition can also result in feet with an offensive smell. The swelling is painful and often the discomfort makes it impossible for the sufferer to walk, let alone carry out normal work and family duties. Sufferers are ostracized. They are often forced to become beggars and some community members believe that they have been cursed. Often, they are shunned like lepers.
Mossy Foot disease affects about 5% of the population in highland tropical areas with volcanic soils and lots of rainfall. This geographical combination produces a sticky red soil, rich in silicates that can penetrate the skin of susceptible people as they go about their daily business barefoot. Issues that determine personal susceptibility are not yet fully defined, but performance of agricultural activities barefoot in this environment certainly increases the risk.
Podoconiosis, from the Greek for 'foot' and 'dust', is a non-infectious type of elephantiasis (swelling of the leg). In order to distinguish it from the other types of elephantiasis commonly found in the tropics, it is also called endemic, non-filarial elephantiasis. In contrast to podoconiosis, filarial disease is caused by a parasite that is transmitted by mosquitoes.