Proportion of palpable nodules by age |
On average, about one third of the nodules can be found by palpation. Diagnosis by palpation, however, must be judged age-dependently. The proportion of palpable nodules is very low in children and increases to about 30% in 10 year old children and to about 40% in aged people. The estimates differ considerably between villages, showing strong observer variability (graph below). |
Palpation of a patient Source: WHO/TDR |
Related pages:
Nodules,
Diagnosis by palpation of nodules,
Diagnostic value of nodule palpation.
Further reading: Duerr HP, Raddatz G, Eichner M. Diagnostic value of nodule palpation in onchocerciasis. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2008;102(2):148-154. |