{{\par misc}{\par Chronic Disease}{\par Morbidity}{\par Disability}{\par Sudan}{\par Mycetoma}{\par Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)}{\par Quality of Life}{\par Public Health}{\par Physiotherapy}{\par }{\par Mustafa Abbas}{\par Peter Siordet Scolding}{\par Abubaker Ahmed Yosif}{\par Roa Fath EL Rahman}{\par Melka EL-Amin}{\par Mohamed Kamal Elbashir}{\par Nora Groce}{\par Ahmed Hassan Fahal}{\par Joseph Vinetz}{\par }{\par The disabling consequences of Mycetoma.}{\par Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease endemic in tropical and subtropical countries, particularly Sudan. The disease is characterised by the triad of painless subcutaneous mass, multiple sinuses and discharge that contain grains. It is a chronic, debilitating disease most commonly affecting the feet or hands and leads to substantial morbidity, loss of function and even amputation. It predominantly affects poor, rural populations and patients typically present late with advanced disease and complications. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we characterise the disabling consequences of mycetoma. The study included 300 patients.

This is the first study evaluating the disabling consequences of mycetoma and shows clear areas for intervention and further research. Options for mitigating social and economic impacts include routine integration of analgesia and physiotherapy into treatment protocols, and adapting educational provision and working practices based on disability assessment. Our data show that mycetoma is a public health issue with direct implications on quality of life.
}{\par 2018}{\par }{\par 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007019}{\par eng}{\par 32674}{\par }{\par }{\par }}