How to Treat Onchocerciasis

Onchocerciasis is a parasitic infection by a nematode of the Onchocerca genus. The only species with a human host is Onchocerca volvulus, which is transmitted by black flies of the Simulium genus. Most cases of onchocerciasis are found in sub-Saharan Africa and up to 40 million people are infected worldwide. The larva mature and reproduce within the host, producing thousands of microfilariae each day. The following steps will show how to treat onchocerciasis.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Use ivermectin as an excellent treatment for onchocerciasis. This medication also is effective in reducing the blindness caused by onchocerciasis. Ivermectin is given as a single dose of 150 mg/kg orally and reduces the microfilariae in the skin by 99.5 percent after three months.

2. Continue follow-up care and treatment because ivermectin does not effect the adult worms. The side effects of ivermectin are primarily limited to inflammatory reactions to the dead microfilariae which can be treated with antihistamines and aspirin.

3. Prescribe suramin as the only drug that is effective against adult Onchocerca volvulus. Administer 11 mg/kg of suramin in a 10 percent solution intravenously once a week for six weeks.

4. Understand the severe side effects of suramin. These include hemolytic anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Treatment of onchocerciasis of the eyes also can cause sensitivity to light, a sensation of foreign bodies in the eyes, tearing, corneal deposits and a high incidence of loss of eyesight.

5. Consider suramin only for severe onchocerciasis of the skin that does not respond to ivermectin or patients living in endemic areas.

Resources

• More About Treating Onchocerciasis

Who Can Help Sponsored

• How to Lose 30+lbs Guaranteed. Try it Free.