ID4U Episode 19 Loiasis ("African Eye Worm")
ID4U - Infectious Disease Podcasts for Users of the CMES program · Jessica Pelletier
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Show Notes
Dr. Kakande Reagan, Dr. Bri Bennett, and Dr. Jessica Pelletier discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, management, and prevention of loiasis.
Take-Home Points:
- Loa loa is a multi-system parasitic disease with potentially serious complications if untreated.
- Diagnosis requires diurnal blood smears or thick-drop methods, and Giemsa or H&E staining is necessary to diagnose the worms appropriately.
- Microfilarial load dictates the treatment strategy.
- There is a risk of life-threatening encephalopathy not only with ivermectin, but also with DEC, which is the first-line therapy for loiasis.
- Prevention involves avoiding Chrysops fly bites.
- Loiasis complicates MDA in areas with co-endemicity for onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. Caution should be used with drug selection in co-endemic areas.
You can view the full show notes and references here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FFoxvW_quKvmRS2Rph09-azch8jb61aemniR8AOX8Ps/edit?usp=sharing
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