蜜芽传媒

Many people have never heard of podoconiosis, but the painful condition affects more than 4 million people across tropical Africa.

The characteristic swollen legs are caused by long-term exposure to irritant volcanic soils found in countries like Cameroon and Burundi. One and a half million people in Ethiopia alone are living with podoconiosis.

Gail Davey from Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Addis Ababa University found that simple routines such as washing the feet and wearing shoes helped to reduce acute attacks by 20%.

(Photo: The swollen feet of a person with podoconiosis. Credit: Science Photo Library)