RIVER BLINDNESS: CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

The consequences of river blindness are significant as they change the quality of life that affected individuals previously experienced. Many of those impacted reside in isolated, rural regions with limited healthcare access. Additionally, individuals who are at risk of onchocerciasis include those living near fast-flowing rivers and streams in remote agricultural villages throughout Africa and South America, as well as long-term visitors such as field researchers, missionaries, and Peace Corps volunteers.

HOW IT SPREADS (RIVER BLINDNESS)

Blackflies that transmit O. volvulus flourish in clean, rapidly flowing water. When these flies bite someone infected, they take in microfilariae, which develop within the fly. After approximately 10 days, the larvae become infectious and can be passed on to another person during a subsequent bite. This vector-borne transmission cycle continues as long as blackflies are present, causing river blindness to persist in these communities.

An individual infected with onchocerciasis typically feels well until the larvae begin to reproduce in significant numbers, a process that may take 12 to 18 months. If you have spent time in a riverine area with fast-moving streams, it might be advisable to see an optometrist at TREETOP VISION EYE CENTRE (TREVEC), the best eye clinic in Utako Abuja.

SYMPTOMS AND HEALTH IMPACT

River blindness mainly affects the skin and eyes. Typical symptoms comprise:

• Intense itching and skin rashes
• Disfiguring skin conditions like leopard skin or lizard skin
• Nodules under the skin where adult worms are located
• Vision changes, which can progress to total blindness if not treated or lead to low vision. This poses significant concerns, which we will elaborate on further;
  Short-term symptoms of river blindness can include vision loss, which may be reversible if the infection is addressed promptly. If the microscopic larvae have already been present in the eyes for a while, the loss of sight will be permanent, but it will not worsen if the individual receives treatment.
  When the microscopic larvae die within an infected person’s body, this can provoke a response that results in considerable discomfort. Larvae dying in the eyes can cause damage to the cornea or inflammation of the optic nerve, which may result in vision loss and blindness.

Stay tuned for insights on the treatment and management of river blindness in our next post.

TREVEC CARES!!!