Mycobacterium Ulcerans (Buruli) Skin Ulceration in Nigeria

Twenty-two of 24 cases of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in Ibadan are reviewed. The patients included Africans, Caucasians, and Indians. There were no differences between races in the manifestations of the disease. The average age of the patients was higher than that in other reports in the literature. The fact that most cases were originally wrongly diagnosed reemphasizes the need to search for M. ulcerans in cases of "tropical" ulcer that fail to respond to adequate therapy. Early recognition and surgery are the mainstay of treatment. Comexazole seems more effective than clofazimine in the treatment of these ulcers.