Outbreak of chiggers in occupations in the North Zone of Natal Around 100 children and teenagers from the Luiz Beltrame settlement, located in the Parque dos Coqueiros complex, in the North Zone of Natal, were diagnosed with tungiasis, a disease popularly known as chiggers. The situation mobilized an emergency action carried out last Saturday (4), which brought together doctors, volunteers and social entities to serve the community's residents. ? Click here to follow the g1 RN channel on WhatsApp Tungiasis is caused by the penetration of a small flea into the skin, usually on the feet. The parasite causes intense itching, pain and swelling and, when not treated properly, can cause serious infections and other complications. The outbreak was identified by volunteers working in the community and led the Pediatria Itinerante project, which provides periodic care in vulnerable areas, to promote an extraordinary edition focused exclusively on treating the disease. According to the project coordinator, Beatriz Jucá, the seriousness of the cases found motivated the emergency mobilization. "Many children had flea bugs, some with around 30 to 40 lesions. It's a very small flea, which forms a kind of pocket on the skin and causes a lot of pain. When we saw the situation, we decided to help with doctors and treatment," he said. In total, 11 doctors participated in the action held at a municipal school in the region. The children underwent clinical assessments, received medical prescriptions and, in cases considered more serious, were referred for specialized monitoring. An outbreak was recorded in the Luiz Beltrame settlement, in Parque dos Coqueiros Sérgio Henrique Santos/Inter TV Cabugi Housewife Isabel Cristina stated that tungiasis is a frequent problem in the community. She said that she already had the disease and that her three grandchildren are currently facing the infection. "I already had it, and today my three grandchildren have chiggers. Where we live there's no way we can't get it, because it's an area where there are animals and other things that transmit it. We put medicine on it, but the problem comes back because it's constant", he reported. Another resident of the settlement, Simone dos Santos, described the situation as a calamity and associated the increase in cases with the region's environmental conditions. "Especially when it rains a lot, there are a lot of puddles of water and this generates a lot of germs and bacteria. Many children have bugs. There have been cases of children needing surgery because of an infection," he said. Pediatrician Francisco Mikussi warned that, although many people treat tungiasis as a simple problem, the disease can progress to serious conditions when it does not receive adequate treatment. "In these larger situations, there are important risks, such as secondary bacterial infections and even transmission of tetanus in children who are incompletely vaccinated. Our objective here is to identify the most serious cases and refer them appropriately", he explained. According to the doctor, injuries caused by the foot bug can quickly become infected. "Some people even joke about the situation, because the place causes itching, but it's no joke. These lesions can evolve into serious infections, septic conditions and even require hospitalization," he said. How transmission occurs Tungiasis is caused by the flea Tunga penetrans, found mainly in sandy soils and in places with the presence of domestic or farmed animals without adequate sanitary control. Experts explain that prevention depends on simple measures, such as: Avoiding walking barefoot in contaminated areas; Maintaining clean environments; Carrying out treatment for domestic animals; Seek medical attention when noticing the first symptoms; Avoid removing the parasite at home without professional guidance. During this Saturday's action, in addition to medical care, the families received guidance on hygiene and prevention. At the end, the children also received sandals to reduce the risk of new infections. Coqueiros, with the aim of meeting the demands of the local population. The ministry also stated that it had no prior knowledge of the tungiasis outbreak registered in the community, but reported that an action with teams from the North II Health District is already scheduled to take place later this month at the location.