ONCHOCERCIASIS : A STUDY ON THE RELATION BETWEEN LABORATORY DATA AND REACTIONS ELICITED BY DIETHYLCARBAMAZINE

Abstract

Parasitological, haematological, immunological and clinical examinations were carried out on 29 Guatemalan patients with onchocerciasis. The patients were given diethylcarbamazine (DEC) treatment (5 mg/kg/day for 7 days) and then examined clinically the adverse reactions at 3, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the initial administration of DEC. The essential features of the adverse reactions elicited by DEC administration were pruritus, rash, pain, lymphadenopathy and edema. The severity of those reactions was found to be roughly proportional to the eosinophil counts in blood and/or the serum level of Onchocerca volvulus-antigen specific IgG.