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Onchocerciasis

Background

Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, in darker-skinned individuals often causes intense itching, skin nodules, and depigmentation, particularly in areas of chronic infection. The disease, transmitted by blackfly bites, can lead to progressive vision loss and skin changes, including thickening and a “leopard skin” appearance. Treatment involves administering ivermectin to kill the larvae, with repeated doses to control the infection, and sometimes doxycycline to target the adult worms.

References