Loa Loa Filariasis

Loa loa filariasis (also loiasis, loaiasis, Calabar swellings and African eyeworm) is a skin and eye disease caused by the nematode worm, loa loa filaria. Humans contract this disease through the bite of a Deer fly or Mango fly vector for Loa loa. The adult Loa loa filarial worm migrates throughout the subcutaneous tissues of humans, occasionally crossing into subconjunctival tissues where it can be easily observed. This presentation led to the popular name, African eye worm. Loa loa does not normally affect one’s vision but can be painful when moving about the eyeball or across the bridge of the nose. The disease can cause red itchy swellings below the skin called "Calabar swellings". The disease is treated with the drug diethylcarbamazine (DEC), and when appropriate, surgical methods may be employed to remove adult worms from the conjunctiva.

The treatment of choice for loiasis, diethylcarbamazine, can lead to serious complications in and of itself when administered in standard doses to patients with high Loa loa microfilarial loads.

Synonyms for the disease include African eye worm, Loaiasis, Loaina, Filaria loa, Filaria lacrimalis, Filaria subconjunctivalis, Calabar swellings, and Fugitive swellings. Loa loa, the scientific name for the infectious agent, is a "Native" term itself and it is likely that there are many other terms used from region to region.


[External Links]
Information from wrongdiagnosis.com
Broad information regarding the disease