Loa loa filariasis

As loiasis (also Loaose, Cameroon bump or Calabar swelling ) refers to a tropical parasitic disease of humans that is caused by the filarial nematode Loa loa and is endemic in Central and West Africa. The WHO estimates that about 13 million people are infected.

Clinical picture, diagnosis and therapy

Transmission is by braking. Long after the initial infection, often years later, it comes to allergy caused swelling of the skin, which can reach a diameter of 10 cm and develop severe itching. After a few days the swelling subsides and typically occurs elsewhere on again. This is because the worm is not encapsulated in the skin, but wanders about (hence Wanderfilarie ). In relatively rare cases it creeps under the conjunctiva of the eyeball and is then visible. The disease is usually not dangerous, but can be very uncomfortable and because of the long life span of the worms represent up over ten years a chronic problem. Late complications can be heart valves and kidney damage as well as meningitis.

Drug treatment with diethylcarbamazine. If he will be adjusted when walking through the conjunctiva, the worm can be removed by a doctor with tweezers.

• Parasitosis of humans
• Tropical disease
• Zoonosis