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River Blindness
River Blindness
River Blindness
Cause
The disease is caused and transmitted in humans by the bite of black fly (simulium
species). These flies are found and breed fast flowing streams and rivers and thus increasing the
risk of disease in nearby areas. The disease is named “river blindness” after the reason that its
transmission factor is found near rivers. These flies transmit larvae that ultimately turn into
adult filarae (2). The adult female worm (macrofilaria) produces thousands of baby or larval
worms within the human body which migrate in the skin and the eye.
Symptoms
It may take years for symptoms to show up in this disease. The following are the major
symptoms of river blindness:
1. Rashes on skin
2. Itching on skin
3. Appearance of bumps under the skin
4. The loss of elasticity of skin
5. Itching in eyes
6. Light sensitivity
7. Loss of vision
8. Changes in skin pigmentation
Diagnosis
There are many ways to diagnose this disease. The first way is clinical in which doctors
analyze the skin to identify the nodules. The alternative way is the skin patch test using a drug
diethylcarbamazine (DEC), called Mazzotti test (2).
Cure/ Treatment
The most common treatment used for river blindness is ivermectin. It is thought to be
directly effective against the larval microfilae stage of Onchocerca volvulus (3). Mixodectin is
also used for people over age of 11 years in United States. It’s multiple dose safety is still
unclear (4).
Preventions
References
1. "Onchocerciasis (also known as River Blindness)". Parasites. CDC. 21 May 2013. Archived
from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
2. Clinics in Dermatology Volume 24, Issue 3, May–June 2006, Pages 176-180 Clinics in
Dermatology Onchocerciasis—river blindness Claes D.EnkMD
3. Rea PA, Zhang V, Baras YS (2010). "Ivermectin and River Blindness". American Scientist.
98 (4): 294–303. Archived from the original on 2010-07-05. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
4. "Moxidectin tablets, for oral use" (PDF). www.accessdata.fda.gov. Retrieved 7 January
2019.