Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0033774 (pruritus)
 14,546 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The Achi community of south-east Nigeria was given mass ivermectin therapy to control endemic onchocerciasis. 7556 subjects (75.6% of those eligible) were dosed. 992 patients (13.1%) complained of adverse effects, mostly within one week of dosing. Adverse events were mainly of the Mazzotti type. Exacerbation of pruritus (71.2%), oedema (47.4%), headache (46.4%), and worsening of rash (24.4%) were the most common. In 962 subjects (97%), adverse events were mild and did not prevent work. Two patients suffered severe sustained postural hypotension. The incidence of adverse events was greater in villages with a high load of microfilarial infection.
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PMID:Adverse events following mass ivermectin therapy for onchocerciasis. 141 54

Degrees of itching were estimated before and for 6 months after a fourth dose of ivermectin or placebo was given to 97 subjects in Sierra Leone. There was no reduction in itching attributable to ivermectin at any stage, but there were non-significant increases in the prevalence, severity and localization of itching within the first 2 months after ivermectin compared to placebo. We also found that cell-mediated immune responses to Onchocerca volvulus were significantly increased 4 weeks after a single dose of ivermectin compared to before treatment. A temporary reversal of the state of immunosuppression in people with onchocerciasis may counterbalance the reduction in skin microfilarial loads following ivermectin, with no consequent reduction in itching. The lack of effect of ivermectin on itching, a major symptom of onchocerciasis, while disappointing, need not detract from the success of mass distribution programmes.
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PMID:Ivermectin does not reduce the burden of itching in an onchocerciasis endemic community. 141 53

Residents of five hyperendemic communities located in the central focus of onchocerciasis in Guatemala were treated with ivermectin (Mectizan) or placebo every six months for 30 months. The effects of treatment on prevalence and the intensity of skin infection (microfilarial skin density [MFD]) were evaluated. Significant and persistent reductions in both of these indices were achieved by coverage of 80.7% of the eligible populations. The highest proportionate reductions in both indicators of infection occurred after the first treatment, followed by more gradual decreases through the fourth treatment. In one community in which the mean coverage was 92.7%, prevalence decreased from 74.0% at pretreatment to 34.9% after four treatments, while the MFD decreased from 7.8 to 2.0; reductions of 52.8% and 74.3% from pretreatment values, respectively. In every ivermectin-treated community except one, in which drug acceptance was low, the mean community MFD values were reduced to the level associated with low infectiousness for the vector, Simulium ochraceum. Moreover, the category of MFD associated with high vector infectiousness was reduced at least ten-fold over the pretreatment level. One community had low participation during the first two treatments (32.8% and 22.7% of those eligible). This increased to 55.2% at the third treatment because of implementation of an educational program describing both the disease and the beneficial effects of ivermectin and because skin biopsies and nodulectomies were not performed. Secondary reaction rates for all communities were 29.5%, 9.9%, 10.3%, 8.2%, and 7.1% for the first through fifth treatments, respectively. Pruritus was the most common (34.0%) secondary reaction, followed by facial edema (31.8%). All reactions were classified as mild to moderate. Recommendations for mass distribution of ivermectin in Guatemala are given.
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PMID:Ivermectin: reduction in prevalence and infection intensity of Onchocerca volvulus following biannual treatments in five Guatemalan communities. 150 85

A prevalence survey of onchocerciasis was done in the Kabarole district, Uganda, in 1990. The objective was to determine the prevalence of onchocerciasis among communities living in previously known foci. A total of 1186 persons were included in the study. The infection rate among the communities studied ranged from 0%-67%. The most frequent clinical signs and symptoms of onchocerciasis were: pruritus (80%), rough skin (46%), skin rash (30%), leopard skin (6%), and sclerosing keratitis (7%). 3.6% of all cases with onchocerciasis had no light perception and the total number of cases in the district was estimated to be 32,000. The study showed that the foci, where Simulium neavei is the vector, are still active. In contrast, very few infections with Onchocerca volvulus were found in the Rwenzori focus, where S. damnosum s.l. was the vector. The results indicate that onchocerciasis is an important public health issue in the Kaborale district and must be controlled.
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PMID:Onchocerciasis prevalence in previously known foci in western Uganda: results from a preliminary survey in Kabarole district. 151 30

In the course of an onchocerciasis survey in southern Malawi, body weight was recorded for 10,335 persons aged 20 years and older, and the body mass index was calculated for 5572. A history of symptomatic complaints was elicited from 5653 persons 20 years of age and older. Persons with microfilariae in the skin snips weighed significantly less than persons with negative skin snips. Symptomatic complaints of musculoskeletal pains, itching, dizziness and poor vision were reported more commonly in the group with microfilariae. These findings suggest that onchocerciasis should no longer be considered a disease affecting the eye and skin only but an infection which produces systemic effects as well. Systemic effects of onchocerciasis may lessen productivity of an endemic region by a process distinct from the effects of visual impairment.
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PMID:Onchocerciasis in Malawi. 2. Subjective complaints and decreased weight in persons infected with Onchocerca volvulus in the Thyolo highlands. 183 86

Sowda, the localized asymmetrical lesion of onchocerciasis endemic in Yemen and Southern Saudi Arabia, is characterized by hyperpigmented lichenified papular lesions on one leg with intense pruritus. There is enlargement of femoral and inguinal lymph glands. In our study, even the long standing cases do not show elephantiasis of the leg or genitalia. Microfilaria appeared to be scarce and adult worms could not be detected clinically, as well as by ultrasonography (except in one case). There was no significant lymphatic obstruction; such cases were studied by contrast lymphangiography and isotope lymphangiography.
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PMID:The black disease of Arabia, Sowda-onchocerciasis. New findings. 200 4

A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of ivermectin was started in 1987 in 6 villages in southern Sierra Leone. 1625 villagers, 93% of the total population, were surveyed before treatment and allocated at random to the trial. Onchocerciasis was hyperendemic and of moderate intensity in the area. Typical onchocerciasis skin lesions were seen in most cases; the blindness rate was 1.5% and a further 4.3% had visual impairment. Six months after treatment 988 subjects (80%) were reassessed and microfilarial loads in the ivermectin group were found to be 10% of control levels. Additionally, blood eosinophil concentrations were reduced by one-quarter. The severity, but not the prevalence, of skin lesions was significantly reduced in the ivermectin group, with a particularly marked effect on papular eruptions. There had been no reduction in the prevalence of itching, nor had markers of general health shown improvement after ivermectin. Ivermectin is an effective microfilaricidal agent and may improve Onchocerca-related skin lesions after a single dose. However, the lack of obvious benefit to a target population after the first dose of ivermectin may reduce compliance with subsequent doses. This has implications for planned mass treatment initiatives in onchocerciasis endemic regions.
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PMID:A community trial of ivermectin for onchocerciasis in Sierra Leone: clinical and parasitological responses to the initial dose. 206 74

In a recent epidemiological study on onchocerciasis on the lower Jos Plateau in Nigeria, a 7-month-old baby delivered by a mother suffering from onchocerciasis showed early clinical signs of the disease: pruritus was present all over the body. The infant's skin snip on incubation revealed microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus. These findings were confirmed 3 months later when the child was re-examined. No onchocercal nodule was found, but pruritus persisted.
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PMID:Possible transplacental transmission of Onchocerca volvulus. 226 Jan 99

A traditional herbal drug, called "Ganna Ganna", is used in rural areas of Liberia to treat onchocerciasis. It is prepared from the bark of the "Ganna Ganna" tree, which was identified as Cassia aubrevillei. An aqueous extract was prepared from the bark according to informations from local people and its effects on microfilaria (mf) density and pruritus were studied in eleven patients with onchocerciasis. In four patients a 1.8-4.8 fold increase in mf density was observed after three weeks and in two patients mf counts dropped to almost zero. Histology and embryogram of adult worms, isolated after treatment, revealed no significant changes. All patients reported a rapid decline of pruritus and this effect lasted for up to three months. The in vitro effect of different extracts on mf viability was tested. The alcoholic extract gave the best results, killing mf within 24 h at concentrations of 50 micrograms/ml. Chrysophanic acid, an anthraquinone identified in the drug, also showed good in vitro microfilaricidal activity. It is concluded, that "Ganna Ganna" could be a useful adjuvant in the therapy of onchocerciasis and that further evaluation of the drug seems promising.
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PMID:In vivo and in vitro effects of extracts from Cassia aubrevillei in onchocerciasis. 237 17

Two men, aged 54 and 31 years respectively, developed an itching skin rash 18 and 6 months respectively after returning from a trip to Africa, the former also recurrent conjunctivitis. Two years and 6 months, respectively, passed from the time of first symptoms until the diagnosis of onchocerciasis was made. Both patients had an eosinophilia (10.5 and 19%) and specific antibodies against Onchocerca volvulus. Microfilaria were demonstrated in the skin of the younger man. The other one had bilateral corneal infiltrates. Both patients were treated with a single dose of ivermectin, 150 micrograms/kg. Within several months, the clinical symptoms and eosinophilia disappeared and the antibody titres decreased.
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PMID:[Onchocerciasis in travelers to the tropics]. 240 Nov 91


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