People affected by onchocerciasis (river blindness) develop eye lesions which can lead to visual impairment and permanent blindness.
How do you get rid of river blindness?
The recommended treatment is ivermectin, which will need to be given every 6 months for the life span of the adult worms (i.e., 10–15 years) or for as long as the infected person has evidence of skin or eye infection. Ivermectin kills the larvae and prevents them from causing damage but it does not kill the adults.
Can river blindness be eradicated?
Can It Be Eradicated? River blindness is not currently eradicable, but because the worms infect only humans, the disease can be eliminated in certain regions through annual or semi-annual treatment with the drug ivermectin. Status: Nearly eliminated in the Americas; on track for ELIMINATION in many parts of Africa.
Is river blindness preventable?
After trachoma, river blindness is the second leading cause of blindness from infection and the fourth leading cause of preventable blindness. The socioeconomic burden of this disease extends beyond the infected individuals, affecting entire families and communities.
Is river blindness reversible?
It can't cure it but if taken every year it can reduce the number of worm larvae in people's bloodstreams, preventing blindness if taken regularly.
Which of the following is used to treat river blindness?
Treatment. The treatment of choice for onchocerciasis is ivermectin, which has been shown to reduce the occurrence of blindness and to reduce the occurrence and severity of skin symptoms. Ivermectin kills the microfilariae (larvae), but not the macrofilariae (adult worms).
Is river blindness common in Africa?
Onchocerciasis, commonly called river blindness, is a parasitic disease particularly prevalent in Africa, where more than 99 percent of all cases occur.
Where is African river blindness found?
Onchocerciasis is currently relatively common in 31 African countries, Yemen, and isolated regions of South America. Over 85 million people live in endemic areas, and half of these reside in Nigeria.
Can you get river blindness in USA?
Since 1995, new cases of onchocerciasis blindness have not been reported in the Americas. The minimum coverage of biannual mass treatment with Ivermectin (Mectizan®) in the 13 foci in the Region was achieved in 2002 and has been maintained since then.