Abstract We present the case of an asymptomatic Loa loa disease in a 28-year-old Nigerian man living in Italy for 5 years. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Case Presentation A 25-year-old woman from Sayaya village in Katsina State, northwestern Nigeria, presented to our eye clinic with a three-month history of redness, pain, photophobia, tearing, and itching, and a two-month history of gradual loss of vision [journals.plos.org]

In the present case, the troubles of consciousness appeared fairly rapidly, within only several hours, after a period of two days during which the patient had presented an evening fever and headaches. [filariajournal.biomedcentral.com]

• Rigor

  Excerpts from historical and/or anecdotal reports While rigorous data on LF distribution in L. loa areas is limited, there are many anecdotal and historical reports that W. bancrofti across Central Africa is low or absent. [parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com]

• Chronic Infection

  L. loa affects an estimated 13 million people and causes chronic infection usually characterized by localized angioedema (Calabar swelling) and/or subconjunctival migration of adult worms across the eye ('African eyeworm'). [nature.com]

• Hepatosplenomegaly

  Chest and heart were essentially normal, and there was no hepatosplenomegaly. [journals.plos.org]

• Long Legs

  Specifically, DEET-containing insect repellent, permethrin-soaked clothing, and thick, long-sleeved and long-legged clothing ought to be worn to decrease susceptibility to the bite of the mango or deer fly vector. [en.wikipedia.org]

• Chronic Abscess

  Dead worms may cause chronic abscesses, which may lead to the formation of granulomatous reactions and fibrosis. [en.wikipedia.org]

• Conjunctival Hyperemia

  The left eye examination revealed a visual acuity of light perception, conjunctival hyperemia, a clear cornea, and a live and active thread-like worm in the anterior chamber ( Fig 1 ). [journals.plos.org]

• Blepharospasm

  The right eye examination revealed blepharospasm, significant lid edema, hyperhemic conjunctiva, and a mobile living whitish organic foreign body in the anterior chamber ( Figure 1 ). The left eye was quiet with no abnormality detected. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Miosis

  This examination revealed in the right eye, a moderate edema of the cornea, a white mobile worm in the anterior chamber, a hypo-pyon, a miosis with posterior synechiae of 360°, a cataract, and high intraocular pressure (of 30 mm Hg as measured with tonopen [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Incontinence

  By day 2 (D2), many patients experienced confusion, agitation, dysarthria, mutism and incontinence. Some cases of coma were reported as early as D2. The severity of adverse effects increased with higher microfilarial loads. [en.wikipedia.org]

• Dysarthria

  By day 2 (D2), many patients experienced confusion, agitation, dysarthria, mutism and incontinence. Some cases of coma were reported as early as D2. The severity of adverse effects increased with higher microfilarial loads. [en.wikipedia.org]

• Insomnia

  Yaoundé, Cameroon; 2 Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon Abstract: We report a case of Loa loa filariasis in an 8-month-old child who presented with a 3-month history of irritated acute red eye and insomnia [dovepress.com]

  The child was brought to the consultation with a 3-month history of irritability, insomnia, painful red eye, photophobia, and tearing. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] affecting humans and animals, caused by filariae; ie, nematode parasites of the family Filariidae. [1] Filarial parasites can be classified according to the habitat of the adult worms in the vertebral host, as follows (see Pathophysiology, Etiology, and Workup [emedicine.com]

• Plasmodium Falciparum

  The effect of malaria control on Plasmodium falciparum in Africa between 2000 and 2015. Nature. 2015;526:207–11. View Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar van den Berg H, Kelly-Hope LA, Lindsay SW. [parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com]

This first autopsy description of an encephalopathy case following the administration of ivermectin involves a 45-year-old male who became comatose 3 days after treatment. [doi.org]

Prognosis The prognosis in filariasis is good if infection is recognized and treated early. Filarial diseases are rarely fatal, but the consequences of infection can cause significant personal and socioeconomic hardship for those who are affected. [emedicine.com]

(See Pathophysiology and Etiology.) [13] As with most helminths, adult filarial parasites replicate in a definitive host. The adult worm burden in an individual cannot increase unless the host is exposed to additional microfilaria. [emedicine.com]

Human Emerging and Re-emerging Infections covers the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostics, clinical features, and public health risks posed by new viral and microbial infections. [books.google.es]

Epidemiology and Pathology Loiasis occurs in West and Central Africa, where it may be known as "eyeworm" or "Calabar swellings:" This is a disease of the equatorial rainforest that does not extend east of the Central African lakes ( Fig. 26.31 ). [isradiology.org]

We strongly suggest the need to carry out an epidemiological study and Chrysops vector surveillance in the savanna belt of northern Nigeria. [journals.plos.org]

Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful Detection of microfilariae in peripheral blood Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test [mayomedicallaboratories.com]

Pathophysiology The filarial life cycle, like that of all nematodes, consists of 5 developmental (larval) stages in a vertebral host and an arthropod intermediate host and vector. [emedicine.com]

Because ivermectin or diethylcarbamazine can cause serious adverse effects in people infected with Loa loa causing loiasis (African eye worm), an endemic disease in a large part of central Africa, the current guidelines for preventive chemotherapy contain [who.int]

He tried using bug spray and nets, but nothing seemed to help prevent these bites. Several months after his missionary trip, when Justin was back home in the U.S., he began to develop swelling around his elbows and other joints in his body. [study.com]

Consultations The following specialists may be consulted in the management of loiasis: Ophthalmologist Infectious disease specialist Dermatologist Prevention L loa infection and loiasis are prevented by avoiding the bites of daytime biting competent vector [emedicine.medscape.com]

VACCINES No vaccines are currently available for the prevention or treatment of loiasis. [antimicrobe.org]

Dead microfilariae within the uteri of the female worm degenerate and prevent further microfilarial production for 6-12 months. Ivermectin not only kills microfilariae, it is also a microfilarial suppressant. [emedicine.com]