Objective. To identify disabilities caused by Buruli Ulcer Disease (BUD) when it affects the Head and Neck Region (HNR) of\r\npatients in endemic areas and suggest possible ways to overcome the complications involved. Methods. Data for the study was\r\ncollected from six different hospitals in the central part of Ghana from 2004ââ?¬â??2009. Diagnosis of BUD was based on clinical\r\nfindings and confirmed by positive result of Ziehl-Neelson Test for Acid Fast Bacilli, PolymeraseChain Reaction, orHistopathology.\r\nTreatment of BUD involved a combination of surgical interventions and antimycobacterial chemotherapy for 8 weeks. Results. The\r\nage of the 38 patients ranged from 0ââ?¬â??56 years (mean age of 14.3 years), withmales outnumbering females.Most (55.3%, N = 21)\r\nof the patients reported to the facilities with developed BUD deformities. Patients who lost their eyeball (N = 5) recorded the\r\nhighest in terms of functional disability. A mean total hospital stay of 52 days and follow-up period of 2.3 years were recorded for\r\nthe study. Conclusion. Visual impairment was the commonest form of disability recorded in the HNR. Management difficulties\r\nand BUD disabilities could be avoided by early detection of the disease and training of health professionals at district levels.
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