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Development and testing of a de novo clinical staging system for podoconiosis (endemic non-filarial elephantiasis)

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 17:02 authored by Fasil Tekola, Zewdu Ayele, Dereje Haile Mariam, Claire Fuller, Gail DaveyGail Davey
OBJECTIVE To develop and test a robust clinical staging system for podoconiosis, a geochemical disease in individuals exposed to red clay soil. METHODS We adapted the Dreyer system for staging filarial lymphoedema and tested it in four re-iterative field tests conducted in an area of high-podoconiosis prevalence in Southern Ethiopia. The system has five stages according to proximal spread of disease and presence of dermal nodules, ridges and bands. We measured the 1-week repeatability and the inter-observer agreement of the final staging system. RESULTS The five-stage system is readily understood by community workers with little health training. Kappa for 1-week repeatability was 0.88 (95% CI 0.80-0.96), for agreement between health professionals was 0.71 (95% CI 0.60-0.82), while that between health professionals and community podoconiosis agents without formal health training averaged 0.64 (95% CI 0.52-0.78). CONCLUSIONS This simple staging system with good inter-observer agreement and repeatability can assist in the management and further study of podoconiosis.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Tropical Medicine and International Health

ISSN

1365-3156

Publisher

Wiley

Issue

10

Volume

13

Page range

1277-83

Department affiliated with

  • Global Health and Infection Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2014-06-09

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2014-06-09

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