Onchocerciasis: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
==Background==
*Also known as River Blindness
*Also known as "river blindness"
*'''Second most common cause of infectious blindness worldwide''' (~300,000 people worldwide) (Another ~800,000 have visual disturbances)
*'''Second most common cause of infectious blindness worldwide''' (~300,000 people worldwide) (Another ~800,000 have visual disturbances)
**Second only to [[Trachoma]]
**Second only to [[Trachoma]]
**99% of infected individuals live in Africa
**99% of infected individuals live in Africa
*Caused by Onchocerca Volvulus
*Caused by ''Onchocerca volvulus''
**A round worm (Nematode)
**A round worm (Nematode)
*Spread by the black fly (genus Simulium)
*Spread by the black fly (genus Simulium)
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==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
*Mainly consist of cutaneous and ocular symptoms secondary to the inflammation reactions from migration of the larvae or death of the larvae
*Mainly consist of cutaneous and ocular symptoms secondary to the inflammation reactions from migration of the larvae or death of the larvae
===Cutaneous manifestations===
===Cutaneous manifestations===
*Pruritis
*Pruritis
*Onchodermatitis
*Onchodermatitis - pruritic cutaneous nodules (may be acute or chronic)
**pruritic cutaneous nodules (may be acute or chronic)
*Elephant skin - skin thickening
*Elephant skin
*Lizard skin - skin atrophy and wrinkling
**Thickening of the skin
*Leopard skin - areas of depigmentation
*Lizard skin
**Atrophy and wrinkling of the skin
*Leopard skin
**Areas of depigmentation


===Ocular manifestations===
===Ocular manifestations===
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{{Travel Skin Conditions DDX}}
{{Travel Skin Conditions DDX}}


==Diagnosis==
==Diagnostic Evaluation==
*Skin snip
*Skin snip
**Multiple small (1-2 gm) snips are placed in normal saline and presence of microfilariae detected
**Multiple small (1-2 gm) snips are placed in normal saline and presence of microfilariae detected
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**Place diethylcarbazine (DEC) on patch of skin - localized pruritis and urticaria are positive reactions
**Place diethylcarbazine (DEC) on patch of skin - localized pruritis and urticaria are positive reactions


==Treatment==
==Management==
*Ivermectin
*Ivermectin
**150mcg/kg one time dose
**150mcg/kg one time dose
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*[[Travel Medicine]]
*[[Travel Medicine]]


==Source==
==External Links==
*http://www.who.int/topics/onchocerciasis/en/
*[http:://www.who.int/topics/onchocerciasis/en/]
*[[Wikipedia:Onchocerciasis]]
*[http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/onchocerciasis/]
*http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/onchocerciasis/
 
*Uptodate
==References==
<references/>


[[Category:ID]]
[[Category:ID]]
[[Category:TropMed]]
[[Category:TropMed]]

Revision as of 06:49, 8 September 2015

Background

  • Also known as "river blindness"
  • Second most common cause of infectious blindness worldwide (~300,000 people worldwide) (Another ~800,000 have visual disturbances)
    • Second only to Trachoma
    • 99% of infected individuals live in Africa
  • Caused by Onchocerca volvulus
    • A round worm (Nematode)
  • Spread by the black fly (genus Simulium)
    • Bite during the day time
    • Live in and near fast flowing streams and rivers

Clinical Features

  • Mainly consist of cutaneous and ocular symptoms secondary to the inflammation reactions from migration of the larvae or death of the larvae

Cutaneous manifestations

  • Pruritis
  • Onchodermatitis - pruritic cutaneous nodules (may be acute or chronic)
  • Elephant skin - skin thickening
  • Lizard skin - skin atrophy and wrinkling
  • Leopard skin - areas of depigmentation

Ocular manifestations

  • Thought to be caused by migration of the microfilariae to the corneal surface
    • Causes localized punctate keratitis that can become sclerosing keratitis leading to opacification of the cornea
  • Some evidence exists to suggest that the ocular manifestations are from the immune response to Wolbachia (an endosymbiant to Onchocera)

Differential Diagnosis

Travel-related skin conditions

See also domestic U.S. ectoparasites

Diagnostic Evaluation

  • Skin snip
    • Multiple small (1-2 gm) snips are placed in normal saline and presence of microfilariae detected
    • Can PCR biopsy if negative for microfilariae
  • Mazotti test
    • Place diethylcarbazine (DEC) on patch of skin - localized pruritis and urticaria are positive reactions

Management

  • Ivermectin
    • 150mcg/kg one time dose
    • Usually distributed in endemic areas as part of a mass drug administration (2 doses 6 months apart, every three years)

See Also

External Links

  • [http:://www.who.int/topics/onchocerciasis/en/]
  • [1]

References