Onchocerciasis

Abstract

Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease with blinding consequences infecting approximately 18 million persons worldwide. In hyperendemic areas, nearly half the population are likely to become blind before they die. Blindness reduces the life expectancy of those affected and has an enormous socioeconomic impact on these communities. Ivermectin, given as a single oral dose of 150 μg/kg, can control the manifestations of the disease and can be safely distributed on a mass scale in endemic areas. This drug provides hope for the control of what has been until now an untreatable and devastating disease.