It has been discovered that Scrotal Hydroxyl disease among men is on the rise in Magarini, Kilifi County.
According to residents from Magarini, about 10% of men from the sub-county are suffering from the disease which leads to a man’s scrotum swelling.
Speaking to this writer, Anthony Kazungu Ziro, one of the victims of Scrotal Hydroxyl revealed that he has been unable to engage in sexual intercourse with his wife for seven years now, following the effects of the condition.
Mr Ziro added, “I thank my wife she agreed to remain faithful to our marriage for we together own the problem I am going through. Sometimes I feel bad seeing her going through the problems of missing the act for all these years though we share the bed,”
Ziro claims that he is yet to breathe a sigh from the disease for what he referred as reeling in poverty despite seeking for government support for his medical attention for more than seven years, for a permanent solution requires surgery.
“It started as a fever when I later discovered that one of my testicles had swollen that is when i realized that I was suffering from Scrotal Hydroxyl,” he added.
Earlier, Kilifi Chief Medical Officer, Bilal Mazoya told the press that about 715 men are reported to suffer from Scrotal Hydroxyl in Kilifi county, Magarini sub-county leading with a total of 154 men suffering from the disease.
Other reports from the department of health, Kilifi County, has it that Scrotal Hydroxyl has spread in Magarini, especially in places bordering catchment areas such as River Sabaki.
Dr Morris Bundi, Malindi sub-county hospital consultant surgeon, has admitted that Scrotal Hydroxyl is one of the commonest surgical condition the referral hospital is experiencing, adding up to 30% of the surgical cases.
The doctor added that the condition is caused by a bite from a mosquito that introduces a parasite. The parasite grows and obstructs the lymphatic flow in the body, hence causing the accumulation of fluid in various tissues.
Dr Morris added, “the commonest tissue which is usually involved in the scrotum and the lower limbs. When it attacks the scrotum we refer the condition as Scrotal Hydroxyl.”
He said that the challenge in the area remains many people hesitate to go for treatment despite the condition being treatable and preventable.
“Preventing the condition is by preventing mosquito bites by using mosquito nets. Those already affected can visit hospitals for treatment which involves surgery for 100% cure without any disabilities accrued,” added the doctor.
However, he said that poverty remains the leading factor behind many not accessing medical services for a big population stay far from the hospitals that offer surgery services.
For cultural reasons, Dr Morris added, some people hesitate visiting hospitals because the condition mostly affects their private parts and they don’t feel it’s right to expose their private parts in front of the medical personnel, adding that others prefer seeking assistance from traditional healers.