Have you ever thought about seeing a tiny worm moving around inside your eye? Oh, it makes you shiver just thinking about it, doesn't it? But, this is a real thing. This is what doctors call `Loiasis`. Some people also call it `African eyeworm.` So today, let's talk a little more about this disease, this worm disease. Because it's very important for everyone to be aware of things like this.
What is `Loiasis`? Simply put...
Simply put, `Loiasis` is an infection caused by a special type of worm called `Loa loa`. This is a parasitic worm disease. To be precise, it belongs to the group of worm diseases called `filariasis`. `Filariasis` is a disease caused by `filarial worms`, that is, a type of thin, thread-like worm.
So how does this worm get into our bodies? This happens when a type of fly called a `deerfly` (some people also call it a `mango fly` or `mangrove fly`) bites us. But these flies are not everywhere. They are mostly found and breed in some rainforests in West and Central Africa. So people who live in those areas or travel to those areas are at risk.
Once these Loa loa worms enter our bodies, they begin to live and reproduce. They usually prefer to live in these places on our bodies:
- In your blood (`Blood`)
- In the lungs (`Lungs`)
- Lymphatic system - This is part of our body's immune system, and some blood cells are produced here.
- In the tissues under the skin (`Subcutaneous tissues`)
Who can develop this the most?
Loiasis is a major problem in parts of West and Central Africa. It is estimated that more than 29 million people are at risk of contracting the disease. That is a lot of people, right?
Will a worm really go blind if it gets into your eye? (This is something that many people fear)
In fact, seeing a worm moving around inside your eye can be a very unpleasant and frightening experience. It's hard to imagine. But the important thing is that these `Loa loa` worms (about 2.5 to 7.5 centimeters long) usually don't blind you. And they don't usually cause any serious damage to the eye.
Here's what happens: The worm passes through the eye and then reenters the body after a while. A doctor can remove a worm that is visible above the eye with a small operation. But remember, removing a worm like this does not cure the entire infection. It needs to be treated separately.
What are the symptoms of Loiasis?
Surprisingly, most people with loiasis do not have any symptoms. They don't even know they have the worm in their body. However, some people may experience symptoms such as:
- Feeling very tired (`Fatigue`).
- It itches all over the body.
- Itchy, swollen, or sore spots appear on the body, especially around joints such as the knees and elbows. This is called ``Calabar swellings.'' This swelling may subside in a few days, but may reappear after a few days or weeks.
- Pain in muscles or joints.
- You can see a worm moving around under the skin. It looks like a wave of skin.
- A worm can be seen crawling through the conjunctiva (the thin membrane that covers the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelid). This is what scares many people.
Imagine, when you're at a loss, you suddenly feel something moving in front of your eye. When you look in the mirror, you feel something like a small thread moving around in front of your eye! How scary would that be?
What causes Loiasis? How does it spread?
As we mentioned earlier, Loiasis is spread when an infected fly bites your skin. The flies that carry the Loa loa worm infection are deer flies and mangrove flies. These flies are only found in Africa. When these flies bite an infected person, they suck blood and inject the worms (called microfilariae, which are very small, microscopic worms) into the fly. Then, when the fly bites someone else, the worms enter the body of that person.
Once these tiny worms, called ``microfilariae,'' enter your body, it takes several months for them to grow into adult worms. As they grow, they can travel into your body's tissues and organs, such as your lungs. It's only when the adult worms are inside your body that you can sometimes see them moving under your skin or through your eyes.
But it's important to note that the chances of you getting loiasis just from a short trip to Africa are very low. Most people who get the disease have to be bitten by infected flies several times over a period of months. This means that you don't get the disease from just one fly.
Is Loiasis contagious from person to person?
This is a problem for many people. No, Loiasis is not spread directly from one person to another. This means that you cannot catch the disease by touching someone who has the disease, sharing food or drinks with them, or using a towel that they used. To catch it, you have to be bitten by that particular fly.
How do you accurately diagnose Loiasis? (Diagnosis)
If you have been to or live in one of the risk areas in Africa and you have symptoms of loiasis, your doctor will likely order a blood test to check for the presence of Loa loa microfilariae in your blood.
Also, the doctor will examine you (`physical exam`) to see if you have any symptoms of `loiasis`, that is, things like `Calabar swellings`.
What are the treatments for Loiasis?
There are antiparasitic medications that are used to treat Loiasis. The main ones used are Ivermectin and Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) .
Important points to consider when administering medication
But here's something very important. If these drugs (especially DEC) are given to people with very high levels of Loa loa microfilariae in their blood, they can have severe, life-threatening reactions. Therefore, before a doctor gives you Ivermectin or DEC, they should do a test to measure the number of microfilariae in your blood.
Imagine how bad it would be if the very medicine that was prescribed to cure the disease caused a major problem? That's why these tests are so important.
If you have more than 8,000 microfilariae per milliliter of blood, Ivermectin and DEC are not safe for you. If this is the case, your doctor may recommend that you first use a medicine called Albendazole or a blood filtering procedure. Albendazole and blood filtering will reduce the number of microfilariae in your blood. Only then will it be safe for you to use Ivermectin or DEC.
Loiasis is a very rare disease in countries like Sri Lanka, so your doctor may consult a specialist in tropical medicine when treating it. If you have a severe infection, you should definitely see such an experienced specialist.
How do you avoid getting Loiasis? (Prevention)
Unfortunately, there are still no vaccines to prevent Loiasis.
But if you are traveling to West or Central Africa, especially if you plan to stay there for a long time, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk of contracting this infection:
- Taking 300 milligrams of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) once a week. (This should only be done on the advice of a doctor.)
- Using insect repellents containing DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide). These are liquid products that are applied to the body.
- Wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts will reduce the chance of flies biting your skin.
- Applying an insecticide called `permethrin` to your clothes. This repels insects like flies.
What happens if you get `Loiasis`? Should you be worried?
In fact, many people with loiasis don't even know it, and it may not cause them any major health problems. That means not everyone will experience severe symptoms.
However, if you have symptoms or even suspect you have loiasis, be sure to talk to a doctor. There are medications available to treat it, which can help clear up the infection and prevent complications.
What are the best times to see a doctor?
In cases like these, you should definitely see a doctor:
- If you have been to West Africa or Central Africa and are showing symptoms of Loiasis (e.g., itching, Calabar swellings, or something looking inside your eye).
- If you are planning to travel to West Africa or Central Africa and think you may need DEC treatment to prevent the disease, it is best to see a doctor as soon as possible before your trip, as it can take several weeks to get the DEC medication.
Take-Home Message
Okay, so from what we've talked about, I hope you've got a good idea about `Loiasis` or `African eyeworm.`
Remember, Loiasis is a parasitic worm infection. It can cause a variety of symptoms, or it can be asymptomatic.
Seeing a worm in your eye is a scary thing. But usually the worm will pass through the eye and disappear within a few hours. Or a doctor can remove it with a minor operation.
The important thing is that if you are traveling to risk areas in Africa, you can take steps to prevent loiasis. Also, if you do get the infection, a doctor can treat it with antiparasitic medications.
So, don't be unnecessarily afraid of this, but don't take it lightly either. The most important thing is to be informed. If you have any questions or doubts, it's never too late to talk to a doctor.
` Loiasis, African eye worm, parasitic worm disease, fly bite, skin worms, Calabar swellings, diethylcarbamazine, filariasis, microfilariae, ivermectin, albendazole, DEET, worm symptoms, African flies
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න