title: Cutaneous onchocerciasis in Dumbu, a pastoral area in the North-West region of Cameroon: diagnostic challenge and socio-economic implications.
abstract: Onchocerciasis is a severe parasitic infestation caused by Onchocerca volvulus which causes disabling skin and subcutaneous tissue changes and ultimately leads to blindness. It has a huge public health impact due to its socioeconomic burden and the vast number of people it affects in developing countries. In this case, a 60 years old woman was encountered with leopard skin like changes, rashes and pruritus on the left leg; which had been managed as cutaneous mycosis for over a period of 8 years. A diagnosis of onchocerciasis was finally made after a skin snip identified onchocercal microfilariae. The above case shows that onchocerciasis is still a neglected tropical disease (NTD) in Cameroon. This emphasizes the need for more expansive outreach programs in remote areas in Cameroon, a change in health policies to ensure the eradication of this disabling disease and health promotion amongst vulnerable populations.
authors.affiliation: Regional Hospital Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Tsi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Njim
authors.affiliation: District Hospital Fundong, Fundong, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Joel Mbigha
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ngum
authors.affiliation: Sub-divisional Hospital Nguti, Nguti, Cameroon; Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC), Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Leopold Ndemnge
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Aminde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002163:Cameroon; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011537:Pruritus / Q000469:parasitology; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Cameroon; Dumbu; Onchocerciasis; blindness; neglected tropical disease