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Onchocerciasis

Onchocerciasis, commonly called river blindness, is a skin and eye disease caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus, spread through blackfly bites. Eye involvement gives it its name and makes early treatment important.

Stromectol

Ivermectin

3mg · 6mg · 12mg

Ivermectin tablets for strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis. They paralyse and kill the parasites causing the infection.

From$1.89/ tabletView

Key points

  • The parasite responsible, Onchocerca volvulus, lives in the skin and eyes, where its larvae cause inflammation, itching and, over time, vision loss.
  • Onchocerciasis is found mainly in tropical regions, where blackflies breed near fast-flowing rivers.

Medicines listed for Onchocerciasis

The one product listed for onchocerciasis is Stromectol, which contains ivermectin. Ivermectin paralyses and kills the Onchocerca volvulus larvae responsible for the infection, including the eye damage that gives river blindness its name. The tablets come in 3mg, 6mg and 12mg strengths.

Further reading