River Blindness Worm
Onchocerciasis or river blindness is a neglected tropical disease that can cause disfigurement and blindness the parasitic worm responsible for the condition is spread from person to person through bites from infected blackflies predominantly in remote agricultural areas with fast moving rivers while symptoms of the disease can be severe the most serious cases are typically due to repeated.
River blindness worm. In 2018 218 million people were in need of treatment for river blindness the majority of the burden being in africa according to the world health organization. Onchocerciasis also known as river blindness is a disease that affects the skin and eyes. The parasite worm is spread by the bites of a black fly of the simulium type.
Onchocerca volvulus is a parasite. 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. Onchocerciasis or river blindness is a parasitic disease caused by the filarial worm onchocerca volvulus.
River blindness also called onchocerciasis is a disease brought about by a small worm known as onchocerca volvulus commonly transmitted by an infected black fly that usually attacks the eyes. Onchocerciasis or river blindness is a neglected tropical disease ntd caused by the parasitic worm onchocerca volvulus it is transmitted through repeated bites by blackflies of the genus simulium the disease is called river blindness because the blackfly that transmits the infection lives and breeds near fast flowing streams and rivers mostly near remote rural villages. Volvulus should be treated in order to prevent long term skin damage and blindness.
People who are found to be infected with o. Onchocerca volvulus is a nematode that causes onchocerciasis river blindness and is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide after trachoma it is one of the 20 neglected tropical diseases listed by the world health organization with elimination from certain countries expected by 2020. John o neill an irish surgeon first described onchocerca volvulus in 1874 when he found it to.
Onchocerciasis is an eye and skin disease caused by a worm filaria known scientifically as onchocerca volvulus. These flies breed in fast flowing streams and rivers increasing the risk of blindness to individuals living nearby hence the commonly known name of river blindness. It s caused by the worm onchocerca volvulus.
It is the second most common cause of blindness due to infection after trachoma. Deemed as the second greatest cause of infectious blindness this disease is called river blindness because the black fly which transmits the disease usually breeds in free lowing water such as rivers. Symptoms include severe itching bumps under the skin and blindness.
It is transmitted to humans through the bite of a blackfly simulium species.
