Onchocerciasis: general
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Onchocerciasis: general. This is a parasitic filarial disease. It is caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Pathology
- This is a parasitic filarial disease
- It is caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus
- The worm burrows in the skin and releases microfilaria daily
- It is transmitted by the black fly Simulium
Clinical features
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Investigation
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Treatment
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References
- Pion SD, Kaiser C, Boutros-Toni F, et al. Epilepsy in onchocerciasis endemic areas: systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based surveys. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2009; 3:e461.
- Colebunders R, Njamnshi AK, van Oijen M, et al. Onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy: from recent epidemiological and clinical findings to policy implications. Epilepsia Open 2017; 2:145-152.
- Colebunders R, Mandro M, Mukendi D, Dolo H, Suykerbuyk P, Van Oijen M. Ivermectin treatment in patients with onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy: protocol of a randomized clinical trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2017; 6:e137.
