RIVER BLINDNESS

ONCHOCERCIASIS (RIVER BLINDNESS)

Ochocerciasis (river blindness) is an illness that affects a person’s skin and eyes. It is due to the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus. This infection comes second for the common cause of blindness, after the illness trachoma (another infection by bacteria).

Black flies of the Simulium type that are commonly found in rivers are the main culprits for this disease, by biting the target host. However, it takes multiple bites to infect a living organism.

Currently, the only way to avoid the disease from spreading to the populace is via prevention, as there is no developed vaccine yet. Usage of insecticides, insect repellents, and proper clothing can minimize contact with the disease carrier.

Most reported cases of this illness comes from sub-Saharan Africa regions; however, there are also reports coming from Yemen and isolated locations in Central & South America. This disease is listed under the Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) by the World Health Organization (WHO).

TYPES

There are currently no types of the Ochocerciasis (river blindness) that has been recorded so far, due to the lack of proper research and funding for this kind of disease, since it is still classified as an NTD.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of this illness usually involve the infected host’s skin, and it may not immediately appear. Some cases report that it took a year for the symptoms to appear. Below are some symptoms that an infected individual will experience:

  • Skin rashes
  • Extreme itching
  • Bumps under the skin
  • Loss of skin elasticity,making the skin appear thin and brittle
  • Itching of the eyes
  • Skin pigmentation changes
  • Enlarged groin
  • Cataracts
  • Light sensitivity
  • Loss of vision
  • Swollen lymph glands

DIAGNOSIS

Most diagnostic tests would involve skin tests, since it is the easiest way to check for the illness. Below are some of the tests that doctors will perform on an infected individual:

  • Skin biopsy (Skin snip) around 6 times throughout the whole body
  • Checking skin for abnormalities
  • Gathering a small amount of skin sample

Then, a Mazzotti test may be done next if needed. It uses the drug diethylcarbamazine (DEC) for the test, which is either done via an oral dose of the medication or via the usage of a skin patch with DEC on it. This helps locate the illness by localizing rashes and itching in the skin.

The other test used is nodulectomy, or the removal of a nodule and examining it for possible worms.

TREATMENT

Medications are prescribed by most doctors to combat this disease. Below are some of the drugs that are currently in use:

  • The primary antibiotic for this disease isivermectin, used astwo doses that are 6 months apart every three years
  • Other antibiotics like doxycycline and rifampicin are alsoprescribed for fighting the disease if the above drug is not available on-hand
  • A new drug that was recently approved is moxidectin;however, there are lacking studiesof this drug yet

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