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A viral infection of the hand commonly seen after the feast of sacrifice: human orf (orf of the hand)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2005

M. UZEL
Affiliation:
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Medical Faculty of University of Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam, Kahramanmaras, Turkey
S. SASMAZ
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty of University of Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam, Kahramanmaras, Turkey
S. BAKARIS
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty of University of Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam, Kahramanmaras, Turkey
E. CETINUS
Affiliation:
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Medical Faculty of University of Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam, Kahramanmaras, Turkey
E. BILGIC
Affiliation:
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Medical Faculty of University of Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam, Kahramanmaras, Turkey
A. KARAOGUZ
Affiliation:
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Medical Faculty of University of Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam, Kahramanmaras, Turkey
A. OZKUL
Affiliation:
Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
O. ARICAN
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty of University of Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam, Kahramanmaras, Turkey
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Abstract

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Orf of the hand is an uncommon zoonotic infection caused by a dermotropic DNA virus that belongs to the Parapoxvirus genus of the family Poxviridae. It is transmitted to humans through contact with infected sheep and goats and is reported as an occupational disease. We report nine cases of human orf seen in the hands of individuals, who were not occupationally exposed, after the feast of sacrifice in Turkey. Three cases were teachers and six out of the nine were housewives. We observed musculoskeletal complications and misdiagnoses. It is important to consider human orf in the differential diagnosis of hand lesions to prevent overtreatment and complications.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press