Military medicine
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Tunga penetrans is a burrowing flea that is prevalent in Central and South America, the Caribbean, tropical Africa, India, and Pakistan, and rarely is imported to the United States. Tungiasis results from the cutaneous infestation of humans by the gravid female flea, T. penetrans. We report a case of tungiasis in a female who had been on a missionary expedition along the Brazilian Amazon River. The clinical presentation, life cycle, differential diagnosis, military and historical aspects, and treatment are discussed.
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The prevalence and incidence of HIV-1 infection in the U. S. military has been higher in minorities than in whites. In order to understand the reason for this disproportionate impact of the epidemic, military HIV research efforts were reviewed for race/ethnic-specific differences in a conference held in July 1993. ⋯ This report summarizes the presentations made at that conference. Few race/ethnic-related differences were identified in this setting of early diagnosis of HIV-1 infection and equal access to a quality health care system. More information of this type will be needed to allow the targeting of interventions for maximal effect in decreasing the risk of HIV infection.