Diagnoses :Palpating the skin is a process in which the infected person’s skin is patted for detecting the nodules. The larvae of the worms will concentrate on the nodules forming thick skin and hence palpating the skin can help diagnosing the illness.Read more on Eye CancerA part of the skin tissue is removed and examined on the microscope for detecting the microfilaria. In olden times Mazotti test was administered asking the patient to take 6mg of DEC that produces severe itching indicative of presence of microfilaria.Treatment :It is difficult to treat onchocerciasis because no positive drugs are available till date for complete recovery from illness. Earlier diethylcarbamazine DEC was given but it was banned due to severe side effects. Surgical method of treatment involves risk of causing blindness. Even after surgery there is every chance for the survival of adult worms inside the body of the patient. Chemotherapy is done for destroying the worms along with larvae completely from the body.Drawback :Microfilaria can live within the host even for 3 years and hence no treatment is effective in removing the worms completely. It is very difficult to detect the nodules that are affected and remove them.Prevention :You can prevent getting this infection by staying away from the bite of blackfly that thrives on the banks of river and streams.
Showing posts with label Onchocerciasis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Onchocerciasis. Show all posts
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Onchocerciasis – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
Onchocerciasis is a skin disorder caused by blackfly. They act as transmitters to carry the worm of Onchocerca volvulus. The blackfly usually breed on the rivers and streams spreading the infection to the people who live nearby. For this reason this disease is also called as “river blindness”.Once the worm enters the human body it produces thousands of larvae inside which would then migrate to the eye and skin causing infection. In rare cases it can cause blindness or partial loss of vision. Mortality rates are less common due to this disease but it is expensive to treat.Blindness caused by onchocerciasis can be prevented by little extra care. More than 18 million people are affected worldwide by this infection and at least 2 million people have become blind. This disease is widespread in Africa and some parts of Latin America and Yemen. River Blindness Causes :This disease is caused by the bite of blackfly that transmits the worm into the blood. It is the female flies by name Simulium that commonly stings human blood and transmits the parasite inside.The larva of the parasite occurs in stages and the fly will introduce the larvae in 3rd stage into the skin of our body. The male worms will reside safely on the nodules of connective tissues which will then move inside to locate female worms for mating. In this process the female worms will produce thousands of micro-filarial worms inside the body. It is capable of producing about 1800 eggs per day. These worms lie predominantly on the skin and on the lymph nodes of connective tissues and only in rare cases it enters into the peripheral blood and passed out through the urine or sputum.River Blindness Symptoms :The first symptom of worm infection will occur only after a year or even more. Till that period the worm lies dormant on the human skin safely migrating and multiplying inside. Some of the early symptoms are joint pain, Fever, and HIVes on the skin. Often there are no symptoms for many people and hence this disease is difficult to diagnose.Some people will have skin irritation and intense itching. It is the auto response of the defense mechanism that fights onchocerciasis volvulus. This would eventually cause thickened skin and light cracks on the skin surface. There will be more serious response as the infection proceeds further. Infection on the subcutaneous nodules is seen on 30% of the cases. Nodules are present either on the pelvic region or on the lower trunk depending on the location of bite of blackfly. Various symptoms are recognized based on the area of skin affected in the body. Sowda is an intense subcutaneous infection in which the skin gets darkened and grows thick. It forms red scaly patches on the skin. Atrophy is the condition in which there is dryness of skin and wrinkles. Intense rash and severe itching are commonly present in all types of infection. For some people it can cause depigmentation (loss of color in the hair follicles)Diagnoses :Palpating the skin is a process in which the infected person’s skin is patted for detecting the nodules. The larvae of the worms will concentrate on the nodules forming thick skin and hence palpating the skin can help diagnosing the illness.Read more on Eye CancerA part of the skin tissue is removed and examined on the microscope for detecting the microfilaria. In olden times Mazotti test was administered asking the patient to take 6mg of DEC that produces severe itching indicative of presence of microfilaria.Treatment :It is difficult to treat onchocerciasis because no positive drugs are available till date for complete recovery from illness. Earlier diethylcarbamazine DEC was given but it was banned due to severe side effects. Surgical method of treatment involves risk of causing blindness. Even after surgery there is every chance for the survival of adult worms inside the body of the patient. Chemotherapy is done for destroying the worms along with larvae completely from the body.Drawback :Microfilaria can live within the host even for 3 years and hence no treatment is effective in removing the worms completely. It is very difficult to detect the nodules that are affected and remove them.Prevention :You can prevent getting this infection by staying away from the bite of blackfly that thrives on the banks of river and streams.
Diagnoses :Palpating the skin is a process in which the infected person’s skin is patted for detecting the nodules. The larvae of the worms will concentrate on the nodules forming thick skin and hence palpating the skin can help diagnosing the illness.Read more on Eye CancerA part of the skin tissue is removed and examined on the microscope for detecting the microfilaria. In olden times Mazotti test was administered asking the patient to take 6mg of DEC that produces severe itching indicative of presence of microfilaria.Treatment :It is difficult to treat onchocerciasis because no positive drugs are available till date for complete recovery from illness. Earlier diethylcarbamazine DEC was given but it was banned due to severe side effects. Surgical method of treatment involves risk of causing blindness. Even after surgery there is every chance for the survival of adult worms inside the body of the patient. Chemotherapy is done for destroying the worms along with larvae completely from the body.Drawback :Microfilaria can live within the host even for 3 years and hence no treatment is effective in removing the worms completely. It is very difficult to detect the nodules that are affected and remove them.Prevention :You can prevent getting this infection by staying away from the bite of blackfly that thrives on the banks of river and streams.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Onchocerciasis
Onchocerciasis
Onchocerciasis is a skin disorder caused by blackfly. They act as transmitters to carry the worm of Onchocerca volvulus. The blackfly usually breed on the rivers and streams spreading the infection to the people who live nearby. For this reason this disease is also called as “river blindness”.
Once the worm enters the human body it produces thousands of larvae inside which would then migrate to the eye and skin causing infection. In rare cases it can cause blindness or partial loss of vision. Mortality rates are less common due to this disease but it is expensive to treat.
Blindness caused by onchocerciasis can be prevented by little extra care. More than 18 million people are affected worldwide by this infection and at least 2 million people have become blind. This disease is widespread in Africa and some parts of Latin America and Yemen.
Causes :
This disease is caused by the bite of blackfly that transmits the worm into the blood. It is the female flies by name Simulium that commonly stings human blood and transmits the parasite inside.
The larva of the parasite occurs in stages and the fly will introduce the larvae in 3rd stage into the skin of our body. The male worms will reside safely on the nodules of connective tissues which will then move inside to locate female worms for mating. In this process the female worms will produce thousands of micro-filarial worms inside the body. It is capable of producing about 1800 eggs per day. These worms lie predominantly on the skin and on the lymph nodes of connective tissues and only in rare cases it enters into the peripheral blood and passed out through the urine or sputum.
Symptoms :
The first symptom of worm infection will occur only after a year or even more. Till that period the worm lies dormant on the human skin safely migrating and multiplying inside. Some of the early symptoms are joint pain, fever, and hives on the skin. Often there are no symptoms for many people and hence this disease is difficult to diagnose.
Some people will have skin irritation and intense itching. It is the auto response of the defense mechanism that fights onchocerciasis volvulus. This would eventually cause thickened skin and light cracks on the skin surface. There will be more serious response as the infection proceeds further. Infection on the subcutaneous nodules is seen on 30% of the cases. Nodules are present either on the pelvic region or on the lower trunk depending on the location of bite of blackfly. Various symptoms are recognized based on the area of skin affected in the body.
Sowda is an intense subcutaneous infection in which the skin gets darkened and grows thick. It forms red scaly patches on the skin. Atrophy is the condition in which there is dryness of skin and wrinkles. Intense rash and severe itching are commonly present in all types of infection.
For some people it can cause depigmentation (loss of color in the hair follicles)
Diagnoses :
Palpating the skin is a process in which the infected person’s skin is patted for detecting the nodules. The larvae of the worms will concentrate on the nodules forming thick skin and hence palpating the skin can help diagnosing the illness.
A part of the skin tissue is removed and examined on the microscope for detecting the microfilaria. In olden times Mazotti test was administered asking the patient to take 6mg of DEC that produces severe itching indicative of presence of microfilaria.
Treatment :
It is difficult to treat onchocerciasis because no positive drugs are available till date for complete recovery from illness. Earlier diethylcarbamazine DEC was given but it was banned due to severe side effects.
Surgical method of treatment involves risk of causing blindness. Even after surgery there is every chance for the survival of adult worms inside the body of the patient. Chemotherapy is done for destroying the worms along with larvae completely from the body.
Drawback :
Microfilaria can live within the host even for 3 years and hence no treatment is effective in removing the worms completely. It is very difficult to detect the nodules that are affected and remove them.
Prevention :
You can prevent getting this infection by staying away from the bite of blackfly that thrives on the banks of river and streams.
Onchocerciasis is a skin disorder caused by blackfly. They act as transmitters to carry the worm of Onchocerca volvulus. The blackfly usually breed on the rivers and streams spreading the infection to the people who live nearby. For this reason this disease is also called as “river blindness”.
Once the worm enters the human body it produces thousands of larvae inside which would then migrate to the eye and skin causing infection. In rare cases it can cause blindness or partial loss of vision. Mortality rates are less common due to this disease but it is expensive to treat.
Blindness caused by onchocerciasis can be prevented by little extra care. More than 18 million people are affected worldwide by this infection and at least 2 million people have become blind. This disease is widespread in Africa and some parts of Latin America and Yemen.
Causes :
This disease is caused by the bite of blackfly that transmits the worm into the blood. It is the female flies by name Simulium that commonly stings human blood and transmits the parasite inside.
The larva of the parasite occurs in stages and the fly will introduce the larvae in 3rd stage into the skin of our body. The male worms will reside safely on the nodules of connective tissues which will then move inside to locate female worms for mating. In this process the female worms will produce thousands of micro-filarial worms inside the body. It is capable of producing about 1800 eggs per day. These worms lie predominantly on the skin and on the lymph nodes of connective tissues and only in rare cases it enters into the peripheral blood and passed out through the urine or sputum.
Symptoms :
The first symptom of worm infection will occur only after a year or even more. Till that period the worm lies dormant on the human skin safely migrating and multiplying inside. Some of the early symptoms are joint pain, fever, and hives on the skin. Often there are no symptoms for many people and hence this disease is difficult to diagnose.
Some people will have skin irritation and intense itching. It is the auto response of the defense mechanism that fights onchocerciasis volvulus. This would eventually cause thickened skin and light cracks on the skin surface. There will be more serious response as the infection proceeds further. Infection on the subcutaneous nodules is seen on 30% of the cases. Nodules are present either on the pelvic region or on the lower trunk depending on the location of bite of blackfly. Various symptoms are recognized based on the area of skin affected in the body.
Sowda is an intense subcutaneous infection in which the skin gets darkened and grows thick. It forms red scaly patches on the skin. Atrophy is the condition in which there is dryness of skin and wrinkles. Intense rash and severe itching are commonly present in all types of infection.
For some people it can cause depigmentation (loss of color in the hair follicles)
Diagnoses :
Palpating the skin is a process in which the infected person’s skin is patted for detecting the nodules. The larvae of the worms will concentrate on the nodules forming thick skin and hence palpating the skin can help diagnosing the illness.
A part of the skin tissue is removed and examined on the microscope for detecting the microfilaria. In olden times Mazotti test was administered asking the patient to take 6mg of DEC that produces severe itching indicative of presence of microfilaria.
Treatment :
It is difficult to treat onchocerciasis because no positive drugs are available till date for complete recovery from illness. Earlier diethylcarbamazine DEC was given but it was banned due to severe side effects.
Surgical method of treatment involves risk of causing blindness. Even after surgery there is every chance for the survival of adult worms inside the body of the patient. Chemotherapy is done for destroying the worms along with larvae completely from the body.
Drawback :
Microfilaria can live within the host even for 3 years and hence no treatment is effective in removing the worms completely. It is very difficult to detect the nodules that are affected and remove them.
Prevention :
You can prevent getting this infection by staying away from the bite of blackfly that thrives on the banks of river and streams.
Onchocerciasis – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Diagnosis, Prevention
Onchocerciasis – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Diagnosis, Prevention
This is also referred to as river blindness and infects over 37 million individuals who are living near fast-moving streams as well as rivers of sub-Saharan area of Africa. A very small number of cases also have been reported out of Yemen and the Americas. Onchocerciasis is believed to be the 4th leading cause of preventable blindness. Approximately 500,000 of individuals infected with onchocerciasis are visually seriously impaired and another approximately 270,000 have become blind permanently from this disease.
99% of all river blindness cases around are found in Africa. In the 1970s, this disease was so prevalent in some river communities that over half of all the adults were blind and many had fled the fertile river valleys. The impact socio-economic of this migration was so bad that it caused the creation of the successful Onchocerciasis Control Program in 1975 that helped to bring down the rates of this disease and caused an economic stability to return to these river communities. In 1995, the African Program for Onchocerciasis Control or APOC was formed with the aim of totally eliminating the disease as a public health concern.
This is a disease which is known as a parasitic disease caused by a filarial worm known as Onchocerca volvulus, and is transmitted thru infected blackflies bites. It is normally blackflies of the Simulium species that are infected and transport undeveloped forms of larva of the parasite from one human to another. While in the body, the larvae develop nodules in the tissue of the subcutaneous where these larvae mature to adults. After mating, the female adult worm actually can release up to 1000 microfilariae each day. These transport thru the human body, and upon dying they create an assortment of conditions:
Manifestations of these conditions begin to happen in individuals 1 to 3 years after the injection of larvae that are infective.
The effects on an individual’s vision can be in some cases only mild impairment. For instance blurry vision or total blindness. Early symptoms of river blindness consist of:
This condition can be diagnosed by:
This condition is also known as River blindness and is an infectious disease that is chronic and caused by the Onchocerca volvulus parasitic warm. It is spread to humans by the female blackfly bite – a fly that breeds near swift flowing rivers. The infectious larva is passed by the bite.
The larvae will form nodules under the skin as it develops into an adult which can take a year or more. When any female worm in the nodule is mated, she will produce the eggs that develop into microfilariae.
You're reading Onchocerciasis – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Diagnosis, Prevention posted by minhhai2d, the information is for reference only.
It is these microfilariae that migrate out into the skin and eye tissues and it is these microfilariae that are responsible for the infection symptoms.
Since most of the cause of this condition is ancillary to microfilariae, the aim of any treatment is to eradicate the microfilarial stage of the disease. This improves symptoms, prevents development of eye lesions and interrupts the transmission of disease.
Ivermectin is normally well tolerated. The dying microfilaria can cause pruritus. Ocular inflammation can also be triggered by the dying microfilariae. To minimalize this some medical professionals recommend a small course of prednisone for two to three day along with the ivermectin. Also more frequent dosages of ivermectin – every three months instead of every 12 months – may reduce any inflammation complications.
Other drugs for the interruption of the stages of the parasite are currently under research.
Repellents that contain diethyltoluamide or DEET can provide protection from the bites of the black fly. Heavy clothes, head nets and long sleeves could be necessary for outdoor activity in areas with heavy infestation during peak activity. The control of black flies includes applications of insecticides for both larvae and adults. This has only had limited success since it is difficult to locate and treat all the breeding areas.
Thanks to the African countries participating in the Onchocerciasis Control Program with community-wide administration of ivermection in these areas has greatly reduced the prevalence of blindness in those communities where this disease is endemic.
What is Onchocerciasis?
This is also referred to as river blindness and infects over 37 million individuals who are living near fast-moving streams as well as rivers of sub-Saharan area of Africa. A very small number of cases also have been reported out of Yemen and the Americas. Onchocerciasis is believed to be the 4th leading cause of preventable blindness. Approximately 500,000 of individuals infected with onchocerciasis are visually seriously impaired and another approximately 270,000 have become blind permanently from this disease.99% of all river blindness cases around are found in Africa. In the 1970s, this disease was so prevalent in some river communities that over half of all the adults were blind and many had fled the fertile river valleys. The impact socio-economic of this migration was so bad that it caused the creation of the successful Onchocerciasis Control Program in 1975 that helped to bring down the rates of this disease and caused an economic stability to return to these river communities. In 1995, the African Program for Onchocerciasis Control or APOC was formed with the aim of totally eliminating the disease as a public health concern.
Onchocerciasis Symptoms
This is a disease which is known as a parasitic disease caused by a filarial worm known as Onchocerca volvulus, and is transmitted thru infected blackflies bites. It is normally blackflies of the Simulium species that are infected and transport undeveloped forms of larva of the parasite from one human to another. While in the body, the larvae develop nodules in the tissue of the subcutaneous where these larvae mature to adults. After mating, the female adult worm actually can release up to 1000 microfilariae each day. These transport thru the human body, and upon dying they create an assortment of conditions:
- Lesions
- Rashes
- Depigmentation of the skin
- Intense itching
- Lymphadenitis resulting in hanging groins and Elephantiasis of genitals
- General debilitation
- Serious visual impairment
- Blindness
- Swollen Lymph Nodes
- Skin elasticity destruction
- Thick, rough, wrinkled skin
Manifestations of these conditions begin to happen in individuals 1 to 3 years after the injection of larvae that are infective.
The effects on an individual’s vision can be in some cases only mild impairment. For instance blurry vision or total blindness. Early symptoms of river blindness consist of:
- Redness
- Itchy eyes
- Photophobia
Onchocerciasis Diagnosis
This condition can be diagnosed by:
- Palpation of skin nodes
- Skin snip examination where small pieces of skin or cultured in growth medium
- Mazotti test where oral DEC is given and if individual is infected intense pruritus result within 2 hours
- DEC patch test where a local application of 10% DEC anhydrous lanolin is applied to the skin. The patch is then checked for local dermatitis
- ELISA where a drop of blood from a pricked finger is collected on filter paper in this serological test. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can then detect the presence of the O. volvulus antigens.
- PCR – known as Polymerase Chain Reaction
Onchocerciasis Causes
This condition is also known as River blindness and is an infectious disease that is chronic and caused by the Onchocerca volvulus parasitic warm. It is spread to humans by the female blackfly bite – a fly that breeds near swift flowing rivers. The infectious larva is passed by the bite.
The larvae will form nodules under the skin as it develops into an adult which can take a year or more. When any female worm in the nodule is mated, she will produce the eggs that develop into microfilariae.
You're reading Onchocerciasis – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Diagnosis, Prevention posted by minhhai2d, the information is for reference only.
It is these microfilariae that migrate out into the skin and eye tissues and it is these microfilariae that are responsible for the infection symptoms.
Onchocerciasis Treatment
Since most of the cause of this condition is ancillary to microfilariae, the aim of any treatment is to eradicate the microfilarial stage of the disease. This improves symptoms, prevents development of eye lesions and interrupts the transmission of disease.
- Ivermectin is the “drug of choice” with this disease:
- Repeated doses every three to twelve months for no less than ten to twelve years
- More numerous dosing for patients who have numerous symptomatic recurrences
Ivermectin is normally well tolerated. The dying microfilaria can cause pruritus. Ocular inflammation can also be triggered by the dying microfilariae. To minimalize this some medical professionals recommend a small course of prednisone for two to three day along with the ivermectin. Also more frequent dosages of ivermectin – every three months instead of every 12 months – may reduce any inflammation complications.
Other drugs for the interruption of the stages of the parasite are currently under research.
Onchocerciasis Prevention
Repellents that contain diethyltoluamide or DEET can provide protection from the bites of the black fly. Heavy clothes, head nets and long sleeves could be necessary for outdoor activity in areas with heavy infestation during peak activity. The control of black flies includes applications of insecticides for both larvae and adults. This has only had limited success since it is difficult to locate and treat all the breeding areas.
Thanks to the African countries participating in the Onchocerciasis Control Program with community-wide administration of ivermection in these areas has greatly reduced the prevalence of blindness in those communities where this disease is endemic.
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