Loa loa : Loiasis or eye-worm infection

Question 1

MOT of loiasis

Answer 1

Transmitted by biting flies of the genus Chrysops . Adult worm live and move in the connective tissues of the human

Question 2

Clinical features of loiasis

Answer 2

• Calabar swellings: swellings are painless, most common on wrists and ankles (may appear anywhere in the body)
• fatigue, arthralgia(joint pains ), generalized pruritus (itching skin)
• hypereosinophilia, endomyocardial fibrosis
• transocular ( under conjunctiva ) migration of adults
• ectopic worms may invade CNS

Question 3

How to diagnose loiasis

Answer 3

to detect sheathed mf in midday peripheral blood. Adults may be removed when they move to the eye

Question 4

Treatment for loiasis

Answer 4

Diethylcarbamazine including CNS complications and allergic reaction

• Concomitant steroids
• Ivermectin effectively kills microfilariae
• Albendazole for 3 weeks to treat adult worms