Onchocerciasis (river blindness).
A 37-year-old African man presented for excision of a dermal nodule after a diagnosis of ocular onchocerciasis (river blindness). A nodule from the patient's left buttock contained several adult filarial worms, and results from adjacent skin biopsy specimens revealed numerous dermal microfilariae. The patient was admitted to the hospital and treated with one dose of ivermectin. Recommendations were made for ivermectin treatments every 6 months for up to 10 years. The history, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of onchocerciasis are discussed.
Borup
Lance H
LH
Osteopathic Medical Center of Texas, Fort Worth, USA. drlanceb@charter.net
Peters
John S
JS
Sartori
Christopher R
CR
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D001706:Biopsy; D002081:Buttocks / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008842:Microfilariae; D015827:Onchocerciasis, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
D000871:Anthelmintics; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D007559:Ivermectin