EFFECTS OF IVERMECTIN TREATMENT OF SOWDA (HYPERREACTIVE ONCHODERMATITIS) IN GHANIAN PATIENTS

TL;DRAbstract

Background: Though Onchodermatitis was a public health problem in Ghana, sowda had never been reported there. Sowda patients have been isolated from and forgotten by society. Thus, it was crucial to find out whether sowda was present in Ghana and, if so, to treat these patients with ivermectin and monitor the outcome. Methods: An active search for patients with sowda was carried out in 16 villages around Hohoe, Volta Region, Ghana. The patients underwent clinical examinations including photographic documentation of their skin lesions. Skin snips were taken and a local Mazzotti test was performed. Blood was drawn for eosinophil count. A single oral dose of ivermectin was administered. Adverse events were monitored over 3 days. Follow-up was carried out one month later and the above examinations repeated. Results: A total of 18 patients, 6 males and 12 females, with an age range from 7-60 years were diagnosed to have sowda. The skin lesions were asymmetric (94%) and involved predominantl

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