Onchocerciasis: A review of a filarial disease of significant importance for dermatologists and ophthalmologists

Onchocerciasis is a common, chronic, multisystemic disease caused by the nematode Onchocerca volvulus. The disease characteristically includes dermatologic, lymphatic, ophthalmologic, and systemic manifestations. It is transmitted to humans by a bite from the intermediate host, the black fly (Simulium damnosum). It is endemic in Western and Central Africa and approximately 95% of all infected people live in these regions. Onchocerciasis has been associated with a high incidence of detrimental effects on socioeconomic development and public health in endemic areas. We, here in Asia, hardly see any case of this disease but due to globalization, frequent international traveling and deployment of military troops from Asian countries (as a part of UN forces) in endemic African countries. We should expect such diseases in our region also and should have a high index of suspicion. Here is a review of this troublesome filarial disease with emphasis of its clinical spectrum, so that dermatologists, ophthalmologists and physicians in our region would be able to keep this disease in mind as a differential diagnosis of some unusual case of dermatitis, blindness or arthritis etc. Patients described (figures) in this article are author s own collection during one year stay in Sierra Leone (an endemic country of West Africa for the disease)