Skip to main content

Featured post

Menstruation; Whats happening to my body?

Contents [ hide ] Introduction Actually, what you are experiencing is a normal physiological process that begins once a girl reaches puberty. The first menstruation in a woman’s life is referred to as menarche , this could happen between the ages of 10 to 15 with most (the average) girls having theirs around age 12. It involves bleeding from the uterus at regular intervals. The end of menstruation is termed menopause , this usually happens between the ages of 45 to 55. Menstruation is therefore defined as the cyclical or monthly flow of blood and shedding of endometrium including mucus, some enzymes and unfertilized ovum. So, what really happens? Well in simple terms, it all begins with changes in hormones in the body. You can think of hormones as messengers that are sent by some organs of your body to tell other cells to do something. In this particular case, an organ called hypothalamus which is found in your brain begins the process. [Fast forward] The ovaries release f...
2 comments
Read more
Labels

Onchocerciasis (River Blindness); signs, diagnosis and treatment

Introduction

Onchocerciasis is caused by the nematode onchocerca volvulus which is characterized by ocular lesions. It is prevalent throughout eastern central and western Africa, which is the major cause of blindness. The disease is in fast flowing rivers where black flies breed.

Mode of spread: through the bite of black flies.

Incubation period: 10-12 months.

Life Cycle

Infective larvae are injected into human skin by the female black fly (simuliumdamnosun) where they develop into adult form in 8-10 months. The gravid female releases microfilaria larvae, which are distributed in the skin and the eyes.

They are then picked by the black fly during feeding. The larvae migrate from the gut of the black fly to the thoracic muscle, through the head and finally to the salivary glands and are transmitted to second host during feeding.

Photo by The Carter Center

Signs and Symptoms

  • Nodular lesions in the skin.
  • Skin rash.
  • Photophobia.
  • Intense skin itching.
  • Blindness.

Diagnosis

  • Presence of microfilaria in small skin microscopy.
  • Eye examination.

Treatment

  • Give ivermectin. P.o.stat (150mcg/kg) you may repeat dose when patient is symptomatic.
  • Doxvcvcline 100mg p.obd for 4-6weeks reduces microfilaria in skin.

Read Also

General Nursing Management of Patients with Medical Pathology

Email Post
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts