Loiasis

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Classification according to ICD-10
B74.3	Loiasis
ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019)

As Loiasis (also Loaose , Cameroon bump or Calabar swelling refers to a tropical parasitic disease of man, by the) filaria Loa loa is caused and is endemic in Central and West Africa. According to WHO estimates, around 13 million people are infected.

Symptoms, diagnosis and therapy

This blood smear shows a loa-loa microfilariae on the right (with a clearly visible sheath) and on the left a microfilariae of Mansonella perstans , another pathogenic nematode species.

The transmission takes place by braking . Long after the initial infection , often years later, there will be allergic caused swelling of the skin that can reach a diameter of 10 cm and develop severe itching. After a few days, the swelling will subside and typically reappear elsewhere. This is due to the fact that the worm is not encapsulated in the skin, but migrates around (hence also wandering filaria). In rather rare cases, it also crawls under the conjunctiva over the eyeball and then becomes visible. The disease is usually not dangerous, but very uncomfortable and can be a chronic problem due to the worms' long lifespan of up to ten years. Late complications can include heart valve and kidney damage as well as meningitis .

The drug treatment is carried out with diethylcarbamazine . If it is measured as it travels through the conjunctiva, the doctor can remove the worm with tweezers.

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