| A rare
case of ocular onchocerciasis in India.
Onchocerca volvulus is a spirurid nematode that mainly affects the
rural poor of Sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen and parts of Central and
South Africa. River blindness, caused by Onchocerca volvulus, is
considered to be the second commonest infectious cause of blindness
worldwide. We report a rare case of ocular onchocerciasis where
a live adult worm was extracted from the eye of a patient from a
nonendemic region. The worm was identified as Onchocerca volvulus
based on morphological features. The patient was treated with Ivermectin
(0.2 mg/kg). At six months follow-up she had complete remission
of symptoms.
Source
Key facts
- Onchocerciasis, commonly known as “river blindness”, is caused
by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus.
- It is transmitted to humans through exposure to repeated
bites of infected blackflies of the genus Simulium.
- Symptoms include severe itching, disfiguring skin conditions,
and visual impairment, including permanent blindness.
More than 99% of infected people live in 31 African countries.
- The disease also exists in some foci in Latin America and
Yemen.
- Community-directed treatment with ivermectin is the core
strategy to eliminate onchocerciasis in Africa. In the Americas
the strategy is biannual large-scale treatment with ivermectin.
In July 2016, Guatemala became the fourth country in the world
after Colombia (2013), Ecuador (2014), and Mexico (2015) to
be verified free of onchocerciasis after successfully implementing
elimination activities for decades.
- Onchocerciasis – or “river blindness” – is a parasitic disease
caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus transmitted
by repeated bites of infected blackflies (Simulium spp.). These
blackflies breed in fast-flowing rivers and streams, mostly
in remote villages located near fertile land where people rely
on agriculture.
In the human body, the adult worms produce embryonic
larvae (microfilariae) that migrate to the skin, eyes and other
organs. When a female blackfly bites an infected person during a
blood meal, it also ingests microfilariae which develop further
in the blackfly and are then transmitted to the next human host
during subsequent bites.
Source
Interviews
We plan to do einterviews with MBBS doctors to understand 4 things
1) Tests or questions you ask in first few meetings
2) What it means in medical terms
3) What it means in non medical terms
4) What should the patient or care takers do
We might interview Aurvedic doctors, homeopathic doctors, Yoga teachers
on this health issue |
