Onchocerciasis — A potential revolution in its treatment

摘要: Onchocerciasis is a major blinding disease affecting at least 28 million people in Africa and Latin America. Although large-scale vector control program has been highly successful limiting transmission of infection West Africa, there not satisfactory form treatment available for those already infected or living other areas. Despite the fact that two drugs, diethylcarbamazine suramin, are active against filarial parasite causes onchocerciasis, their use severely limited by toxicity reaction they induce. A newly developed drug, ivermectin, appears to offer revolution onchocerciasis. In series clinical trials, ivermectin shown be an extremely effective microfilaricide which induces only minimal side effects. Ivermectin given as single oral dose can repeated on annual basis. view its safety efficacy ease administration, it seems likely will suitable mass chemotherapy programs