Strange illness baffles doctors
Mr Emmanuel Kasagga, the victim.
What you need to know:
The same worry grips locals of Buwungu Sub-county, seeing Emmanuel Kasagga, their fellow resident battle a disease that has left his skin scaly.
Doctors in Masaka District are puzzled about a strange skin infection that has attacked a builder in Lwannunda Village in Buwunga Sub-county.
Mr Emmanuel Kasagga began experiencing signs of the disease about three months ago, with his body turning rough and scaly yet giving off an offensive smell.
Mr Kasagga, whose infection drew the attention of the entire neighbourhood, eats normally, passes normal stool, has no abdominal pain, sleeps soundly and speaks clearly. He, however, cannot stand the stares, resorting to locking himself up in the house, with scales peeling of his skin and sometimes letting out maggots, especially if his care takers take long to apply some powder on his body.
Narrating his ordeal to Daily Monitor, Mr Kasagga said it all started with small pimple-like swellings around his naval, the ankles and elbows. “They were itchy and when I scratched them they let out a little liquid. Before I knew it, they began to spread to other parts of the body,” he said, adding that sometimes he feels hot, causing him to sweat heavily.”
The 38-year-old said he has been taken to a number of health centres including Buwunga Health Centre in his village before he was referred to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital in July, where he stayed until August without getting any relief.
“The doctors told me it was a fungal disease and prescribed some tablets but my condition only got worse,” Mr Kasagga, who has resorted to using ordinary ointments, baby powder and herbs, said.
“It is so painful to be isolated by friends because even if I am cleaned by bathing in water with soap, I remain unclean and smelly.”
Mr James Kiwewa, one of his brothers said they apply powder all over his body daily to keep the skin dry and avoid it from rotting.
Dr Bulasio Kabugo, one of the doctors who treated Kasagga at Bulamu Clinic, says his condition could be a reaction to some drugs he could have unconsciously used in the past. He advised the patient to see skin specialists at Mulago and also advised him to avoid contact with wool and avoid areas with extreme temperature. He added that the patient should use a non-greasy moisturiser such as aqueous cream, if the skin is very dry.
Masaka District Health Officer, Dr Stuart Musisi, said it is necessary to make a proper diagnosis by dermatologists to be sure of what is wrong with Mr Kasagga. It is not clear whether the disease is infectious but Mr Baker Nsubuga, the area vice chairman, said residents are beginning to get concerned about possible infection.
