River blindness. Caused by a tiny worm transmitted to humans by the bite of infected flies. Most prevalent in Central America and Africa.
Infestation with Onchocerca in which the larvae can move into the eye, causing river blindness.
Disease common in Central and South America and Africa in which the bite of black fleas transmits filariae (long, threadlike worms) under the skin, causing subcutaneous nodules, an itchy rash, and eye lesions. Treatment involves surgical incision of nodules to remove the worms and the use of anthelmintics (diethylcarbamazine). Also called river blindness.
An infection spread by black flies that causes chronic skin disease and eye lesions, which may lead to vision impairment or blindness. Onchocerciasis is also referred to as “river blindness” because the black flies that cause it breed in rapidly flowing streams, most commonly in the Savannah regions of Africa, in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, in southern Mexico, and in certain countries of Central and South America.
A tropical disease of the skin and underlying connective tissue caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus. Fibrous nodular tumors grow around the adult worms in the skin; these may take several months to appear, and if secondary bacterial infection occurs they may degenerate into abscesses. The skin also becomes inflamed and itches. The migration of the larvae into the eye can cause total or partial blindness: the river blindness of Africa, Onchocerciasis occurs in Central Africa and Central America. The drugs suramin and diethylcarbamazine are used in treatment; if possible, the nodules are removed as and when they appear.
Infestation with the filarial worm, Onchocerca volvulus, found in many parts of tropical Africa, in Central and South America, and in the Yemen and Saudi Arabia. After a period of 9-18 months, the young filarial worms, injected into the body by the bite of an infected simulium gnat, mature, mate and start producing young microfilariae. These produce the characteristic features of the disease: an itching rash of the skin and the appearance of nodules in different parts of the body. The worm may invade the optic nerve of the eye and cause blindness; hence the name of African river-blindness. Treatment is with diethylcarbamazine and suramin. An international campaign is underway in an attempt to destroy simulium in the affected zones.
Onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness, is a parasitic infection caused by thread-like worms of the genus Onchocerca, particularly Onchocerca volvulus. This disease is prevalent in tropical regions of the Americas and is transmitted by various species of blackflies.
An oncogene is a gene responsible for regulating normal cell growth. However, when mutated or excessively expressed, it promotes the transformation of normal cells into cancerous cells.
River blindness, scientifically known as onchocerciasis, is a tropical disease resulting from an infestation of the Onchoceraca Volvulus worm. This form of filariasis impacts millions in certain areas of Africa, Central, and South America.
Onchocerciasis spreads among individuals through the bite of tiny black simulium flies, known for their aggressive biting behavior. These flies, which thrive and stay close to fast-flowing streams, consume microfilariae (minute worms). When they bite humans, they introduce these larvae into the skin. Once inside, the larvae multiply and disperse beneath the skin.
Exposure to deceased larvae can trigger allergic responses, leading to inflammation and the development of scar tissue. If this happens within the eye, it results in irreversible damage, culminating in blindness. Signs of this ailment manifest as itchy, inflamed spots and typically appear around a year post-infestation.
The treatment includes the administration of anthelmintic medications, which effectively eliminate the microfilariae. However, yearly treatments are necessary as these drugs don’t impact the adult worms. Those traveling to regions where the disease is common should adopt strategies to prevent insect bites.
Infection by a specific filarial worm that leads to skin tumors, skin inflammation, and issues with the eyes.