Overview
Tungiasis (also called sand flea disease, jigger flea infestation, or chigoe flea infestation) is a parasitic skin disease caused by the female sand flea, known scientifically as Tunga penetrans or Tunga trimamillata. This tiny flea burrows into the skin — most often on the feet, especially around the toes, heels, and soles — where it feeds on blood and grows as it produces eggs. The flea swells up under the skin, creating a small, painful, white or black-dotted bump that can grow to the size of a pea. The main symptoms include intense itching, pain, swelling, and a visible lesion on the skin. As the flea grows and lays eggs, the surrounding skin can become inflamed, ulcerated, and infected with bacteria. In severe cases, especially in children or people with many infestations at once, the disease can make walking very difficult and lead to serious complications like tetanus, gangrene, or loss of toes. Tungiasis is not a genetic disease — it is caused by an environmental parasite. Treatment involves carefully removing the flea from the skin, ideally by a trained health worker, along with wound care and antibiotics if infection is present. Prevention focuses on wearing shoes and avoiding sandy, dry soil in areas where the flea lives. With prompt treatment, most people recover fully, but repeated infestations are common in affected communities.
Key symptoms:
Intense itching at the site of the flea burrowPain or tenderness, especially when walkingA small white or yellowish bump on the skin, often with a black dot in the centerSwelling around the affected areaRedness and inflammation of the skinUlceration or open sore if the lesion breaks downDifficulty walking when many lesions are present on the feetBacterial skin infection (secondary infection) around the lesionCrusting or scabbing over the lesion as the flea diesNail deformity or loss if infestation occurs near the toenailsIn severe cases, loss of toes due to tissue damage or gangrene
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Variable
Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Tungiasis.
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Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Tungiasis.
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Caregiver Resources
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Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.Is it safe to remove the flea at home, or should it always be done by a health professional?,Do I need antibiotics, and how will we know if the wound is getting infected?,Is my tetanus vaccination up to date, and do I need a booster?,How can I prevent getting tungiasis again after treatment?,Are there any medications I can use on my skin to help treat or prevent this?,Should my family members or household contacts also be checked for infestation?,What warning signs should make me come back to the clinic right away?
Common questions about Tungiasis
What is Tungiasis?
Tungiasis (also called sand flea disease, jigger flea infestation, or chigoe flea infestation) is a parasitic skin disease caused by the female sand flea, known scientifically as Tunga penetrans or Tunga trimamillata. This tiny flea burrows into the skin — most often on the feet, especially around the toes, heels, and soles — where it feeds on blood and grows as it produces eggs. The flea swells up under the skin, creating a small, painful, white or black-dotted bump that can grow to the size of a pea. The main symptoms include intense itching, pain, swelling, and a visible lesion on the skin
How is Tungiasis inherited?
Tungiasis follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
Which specialists treat Tungiasis?
19 specialists and care centers treating Tungiasis are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.