Dr Andrew Karamesinis : TMA member based in Mt Eliza, Victoria
Travellers love to come and visit Victoria, Australia, and in particular the picturesque Mornington Peninsula.
They usually have a great time, but very occasionally it is possible to take home an unwanted souvenir in the form of a persistent skin ulcer.
Approximately 200 of these ulcers occur in visitors and residents each year in Victoria.
They occur in a few other parts of the world as well.
These ulcers are caused by a germ called Mycobacterium Ulcerans.
We don’t know how the germ is transmitted, but we do know that it is easy to treat IF, and only IF we test for it and use the correct antibiotic.
So, please come and visit the lovely Mornington Peninsula where I live and work, but… if you develop a painful, red swelling anywhere on your body that forms an ulcer… go straight to your doctor and ask them to check for Buruli Ulcer.
The test is simple and the treatment works, but as I mentioned earlier the correct combination of antibiotics needs to be used.
If you or your doctor don’t think to do the specific test, then the ulcer will persist and grow as everyday antibiotic don’t work against this annoying germ.