A skin disease never seen before in this area is infecting both children and adults in Nadunget Town Council, Moroto district.
Residents say that the infection looks like Chickenpox and manifests with itchy patches on the skin all over the body. It was first reported from schools but spread in the community when children returned home for holidays.
Nadunget Trading Centre chairperson Mark Lodim says that the disease spreads rapidly to both children and adults. Patients suffering from the disease take between one to two weeks to recover.
Patrick Enabu, one of the parents in the Nadunget Trading Centre said that his children contracted the disease from the neighbourhood, and while he ignored the signs, the disease advanced leaving them with severe wounds all over their bodies as a result of scratching.
Similarly, Susan Namer, one of the persons who have suffered from the disease, says that the disease worsens in coldness and does not respond to treatment like anti-itch skin ointments bought off the counter.
Now residents have resorted to using herbal eucalyptus and orange leaves to manage the symptoms.
Dr Philips Lotee, the in-charge of Nadunget Health Centre IV said that the numbers are overwhelming and asked the Ministry of Health to intervene. He explained that although they initially thought that they were dealing with an outbreak of Chickenpox, because of some similarities in the symptoms that is itchy rash and being contagious but with this strange disease the rash is slow to heal and complicated to manage.
There is no specific treatment for chickenpox, but there are pharmacy remedies that can alleviate symptoms. These include paracetamol to relieve fever, and calamine lotion and cooling gels to ease itching.
Lotee said that many patients, especially children can respond to antivirals while adults take a little bit longer. He added that they have written to the District Health Officer about the infection but they are yet to get the feedback.