ONCHOCERCIASES Meaning and
Definition
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Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is a tropical parasitic disease caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black flies of the Simulium species. The disease affects people predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen, and parts of Central and South America.
The adult worms reside in human subcutaneous tissues, where they produce millions of microfilariae (larvae) that migrate to the skin and eyes. Infected individuals often experience intense itching and skin lesions, hence the name "river blindness." If left untreated, the infection can cause severe visual impairment and even blindness due to the worm's invasion of the eye tissues.
Onchocerciasis is diagnosed through skin snip microscopy, which involves taking a small piece of skin, usually from the iliac crest, and examining it under a microscope for the presence of microfilariae. Treatment primarily relies on a medication called ivermectin, which kills the microfilariae and reduces the transmission of the disease. Mass treatment programs have been implemented in affected regions to control the spread of onchocerciasis.
Preventive measures include wearing protective clothing such as long sleeves and trousers to avoid black fly bites, as well as using insect repellents and bed nets. Efforts to eliminate the disease entirely have been ongoing through integrated vector control, health education, and community-based treatment programs.
Common Misspellings for ONCHOCERCIASES
- inchocerciases
- knchocerciases
- lnchocerciases
- pnchocerciases
- 0nchocerciases
- 9nchocerciases
- obchocerciases
- omchocerciases
- ojchocerciases
- ohchocerciases
- onxhocerciases
- onvhocerciases
- onfhocerciases
- ondhocerciases
- oncgocerciases
- oncbocerciases
- oncnocerciases
- oncjocerciases
- oncuocerciases
- oncyocerciases
Etymology of ONCHOCERCIASES
The term "Onchocerciases" is derived from two components: "Onchocerca" and "iases".
1. Onchocerca: Onchocerca is a genus of parasitic worms that belongs to the family Onchocercidae. These worms are responsible for causing the disease known as onchocerciasis or river blindness. The name "Onchocerca" is derived from the Greek words "Oncho" meaning "to swell" and "kérkōs" meaning "tail" or "worm". This name reflects the prominent swelling caused by the presence of the worm.
2. "Iases": The suffix "-iases" is commonly used in medical terminology to denote "disease" or "condition". It comes from the Greek word "iasis" meaning "process" or "disease".
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