title: Controlled clinical trial of oral and topical diethylcarbamazine in treatment of onchocerciasis.
abstract: In a double-blind controlled clinical trial comparing the safety and efficacy of oral diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) with topical DEC for the treatment of onchocerciasis twenty men with moderate skin-snip microfilarial counts received daily therapy for 1 week, then weekly therapy for the rest of 6 months. The number of microfilariae per skin snip dropped quickly to 2% of initial levels and remained at low levels in those receiving oral DEC, and to 20% of initial levels in patients treated with DEC lotion. Side-effects in both groups included lymphadenopathy, fever, pruritus, rash, proteinuria, and chorioretinitis; they were commoner with topical DEC.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D004049:Diethylcarbamazine