Why was this study done?
skin disease, itching, Onchocerciasis, tropical disease, ocular disease, infection
SKIN DISEASE, RIVER BLINDNESS, ONCHOCERCIASIS, ONCHOCERCIASIS, INFECTION, WORM INFECTION, WORMS
Onchocerciasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic round worms. The infective worm larvae are transmitted by black flies that breed near rivers in sub-Saharan Africa. The parasites cause severe skin disease with itching and ocular disease; the common name for the infection is “river blindness”. WHO has targeted onchocerciasis for elimination and mass drug administration is the key intervention strategy.There is an urgent need for improved treatments to kill or permanently sterilize the adult parasites. This study tested a combination drug treatment that is quite effective for treating other related worm infections.