Old Time article about Threadworm Epidemic

[Margo]

Threadworm Epidemic
Monday, Jul. 08, 1946 Article

http://tinyurl.com/32ugme


Whole villages in southern Mexico are threatened with mass blindness as an obscure disease sweeps the tropical, coffee-growing state of Chiapas. Thus far Government sanitary brigades have only sized up the enemy—a kind of filaria or threadworm, whose eggs are spread from victim to victim by gnats. The eggs develop into hairlike parasites, some 20 inches long, which work their way through the body toward the head and shoulders. There they reproduce and multiply into tangled masses, forming cysts.

When the victim becomes lumpy around the face and head, he is doomed to blindness unless the cysts are cut away before the threadworms reach the eyes. Even when the cysts are removed, the victim may become reinfected; for doctors doubt that the gnats, which spread the parasites, can be exterminated—even with DDT.

The disease, called onchocercosis, is apparently of African origin. First found in Guatemala, it spread into Chiapas with migrations of coffee pickers; a smaller outbreak in Oaxaca was attributed to pilgrims who had visited a Guatemalan shrine. The Inter-American highway is now opening the remote region for the first time, and epidemiologists fear that the disease will spread into the rest of Mexico. One fact which comforts Mexican researchers: though the disease has spread through the coffee-growing regions, where peons are mostly undernourished, it seldom attacks healthy, well-fed people.
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Do we have Horse filaria?

http://tinyurl.com/39v3ho


Scientific name: Onchocerca sp cervicalis
Common name: Neck Threadworms

Description: Neck threadworms occur in the ligaments of the neck and forelegs. Adult worms are long and coiled. Females reach up to 12 in. (30 cm) in length and males are generally 2 to 3 in. (7 to 8 cm) long. Infection produces soreness and swelling in the neck, as well as the suspensory ligaments and flexor tendons of the forelegs, restricting a horse’s freedom of movement. Dead worms calcify and create bumps that can disable the horse. Microfilariae may infiltrate the lens of the eye and cause swelling of the cornea and, in some cases, blindness.

Life cycle: Unlike most parasitic worms, neck threadworms have an indirect life cycle and require an intermediate host. The biting midge, because of its aggressive feeding habits, serves as the host and perpetuates the transfer of neck threadworms. When an infected midge bites a horse, threadworm larvae are deposited under the skin and migrate to ligaments in the horse’s neck and legs. Larvae that remain in the skin can be picked up by other midges and carried to other horses.

Symptoms: Signs of neck threadworm infestation can appear in fly season and in winter. Clinical signs include skin lesions, hair loss, itching and other indications common with dermatitis. Swelling of the fetlocks, lameness and bumps under the skin covering ligaments and tendons can all mark the presence of neck threadworms. When microfilariae invade the eye, small white nodules (less than 1mm) may appear near the corner of the eye.
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If so why aren't we taking this as treatment for filaria? http://tinyurl.com/3bxmyz

DEC or Diethyl Carbamazine Citrate



Anti Filarials.

DIETHYL CARBAMAZINE CITRATE



General Information



Drug Code Preparation Strength

448 Tab. Diethylcarbamazine citrate 100 mg

4876 Syrup. Diethyl carbamazine citrate 100 mg/5ml


Description of the Drug
It is a synthetic piperazine derivative, active against filarial adult as well as microfilariae.



Mode of Action
It acts by immobilizing and sensitizing the microfilarias making them more susceptible to phagocytosis and other host mechanisms.



Pharmacokinetics
It is readily absorbed from the GIT. Plasma half life is 2-3 hours. It is widely distributed in tissues and is excreted in the urine both as unchanged as well as metabolites.



Clinical Information

Indications
· Lymphatic filariasis due to W.bancrofti, Brugia malayi and B.timori.

· Tropical Eosinophilia.

· Loasis due to Loa loa.

· Larva migrans – cutaneous and visceral.



Dosage – 5 mg/kg
· For filariasis – 6 mg/kg/day in 3 divided doses for 3 weeks.

· For tropical eosinophilia – 2 mg/kg/day thrice daily for 1 week.

· For larva migrans – 6 mg/kg/day in 3 divded doses for 7-10 days.


Routes of Administration Oral.


Contraindications

· Severe renal failure.

· Elderly, debilitated and hypertensive patients.



Precautions / Practice points
· Treat malnutrition and anemia in the patient, apart from antifilarial theraphy.

· If patients are suspected to have malaria, antimalarial therapy should first be administered, then only DEC should be started.

· Dosage to be adjusted inmild or moderate renal dysfunction.

· Corticosteroids and antihistaminics to be given during first few days of treatment to reduce symptoms of allergic reaction to the dying parasites.



Drug Interactions
Causes hypermotility of uterus by interacting with prostaglandins.



Adverse Effects
· They are rare and usually mild and transient.

· GIT – nausea, vomiting, anorexia.

· CNS – headache, dizziness, drowsiness.

· Allergic reaction from the death of thefilarial worms or microfilariae like fever, malaise, rashes, headache, arthralgia, GI symptoms leucocytosis.



Drug Toxicity
Fatal complications like tachycardia, hypotension, shock and death may occur when DEC given for heavy infestation of onchocerciasis and loasis.



Treatment of Toxicity
Symptomatic and supportive line of management.


Storage
Store in cool, dry, dark place.



Shelf Life 2 years.
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Margo

[Kritters]

Very interesting, Margo~~~~~~

I'm beginning to see the same patterns in symptoms of so many vectors~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm flabberghasted that Dermatologists have the audacity to even SUGGEST DOP in the face of so many pathogens causing similar symptoms such as those we have seen them for.

I kept the prescription for a 'soothing salve' when I showed her my war-zone arm and she wouldn't even take a biopsy or anything. She will be hearing from me NO MATTER WHAT now that I'm finding out how many things could cause this.



Unfortunately, I would not trust any doctor around here to accurately administer any drug with these potential side effects:

Adverse Effects
· They are rare and usually mild and transient.

· GIT – nausea, vomiting, anorexia.

· CNS – headache, dizziness, drowsiness.

· Allergic reaction from the death of thefilarial worms or microfilariae like fever, malaise, rashes, headache, arthralgia, GI symptoms leucocytosis.



Drug Toxicity
Fatal complications like tachycardia, hypotension, shock and death may occur when DEC given for heavy infestation of onchocerciasis and loasis.

thanks for the information,
Kritters

[Natalie]

Hello, and as usual very good post! Most of the posts on this site hit home for me and this one specially. I have cysts in my throat, up into the neck glands? They were fine needle biopsied but werent cancerous. I ASKED they be tested for bacteria, fungus and parasite. But of courde the answer was,.. we dont do that! This was done out patient at local hospital. This cysts become itchy and painful. Strange way to describe a cyst, itchy!!!
I also have at times, when not on antibiotic, very bad charlie horse pain in calves. I also have felt MOVEMENT under knee bones, and itchy aggaravating movement. Oh yeah, the cysts are calcified. The docs were almosst ceratain I had thyroid cancer! Sorry buddy, I got bugs!! Man oh man, what to do?? Thankyou for this post, at least I know Im not alone. Many blessings to you, Natalie

[Kritters]

Natalie....

THEN GO TO HAVE THEM CHECKED OUTPATIENT AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL!!!!!

CARLA....THIS COULD BE WHAT YOUR DAUGHTER HAS TOO!

NATALIE.... WHAT IS IT WITH THESE PEOPLE? THEY DID A FINE NEEDLE BIOPSY FOR CANCER, BUT NOT FOR ANY PARASITES????

YOU NEED TO GO BACK AND DEMAND THEY ORDER THE TEST.

Kritters xoxo

[Kritters]

CYSTS

http://www.answers.com/cysts?cat=hea...&ver=2.3.0.609

NOTICE THESE DEFINITIONS:

Biology. A small capsulelike sac that encloses certain organisms in their dormant or larval stage.
Botany. A thick-walled resting spore, as in certain algae or fungi.

What is it with these people? the dictionary knows they contain micro-organisms, but the health professionals do not????

What the hell is wrong with this picture?

[Natalie]

Hi Kritt, None of the doctors around here beleive people are having a parasite problem. The doctor who did aspiration of cysts was a technician and they only do what the order says. Im not giving up on myself or the fact that I am in a position of helping the world with this disease like Jonsi says under her posts!

If I stay holed up in my house, take antibiotics and yeast meds, clean like a freakazoid, cysts go down, pain in belly better, just everything relaxes. But I cant stay in forever. There are alot of people I know with this BUG or whatever it is. I am a beacon for it and Im not kidding!

Doing much better mentally, thank God, my angels and guides. Thankyou you all cause God works through you! Have a good day, Nat

[Margo]

Hello, maybe this will help. We need a Infectious Disease Specialist not a GP. Here are some steps to find one.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/public..._physician.htm
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Infectious Disease Specialist
illnesses caused by infections with bacteria, viruses, or parasites.


Travel Medicine Specialist
travel related illnesses–before and after travel


In addition, a General Practitioner (GP) is trained in a broad range of general medicine, surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics. If your condition is beyond a GP’s expertise, he or she will refer you to a specialist.


I have heard that parasitic infections are rare in the United States and that doctors don’t know how to diagnose or treat them.
This is not true. Parasitic diseases are diagnosed and treated every day in the United States. Diagnosis is sometimes difficult to make and may require a specialist.

Where can I find a physician?
To find such a physician familiar with diagnosing and treating parasitic infections, consider the following:

1. Ask your GP or primary care physician for a referral.

2. Contact the nearest medical school teaching hospital for an appointment.

3. Check your local telephone book for physician and specialist listings.

4. Contact a tropical medicine society or association to find members in your area.

Examples of such associations include:

The International Society of Travel Medicine: www.istm.org

Note: Not all physicians are members of associations or societies. Often a member of such a society is referred to as a "diplomate."

5. Find out if the physician is board certified. Board certification means that the physician has trained in and passed a board exam for his or her specialty. A board-eligible physician is one who has been trained in his or her specialty and is eligible for certification, but has not yet taken the board exam.


Margo

[Natalie]

Thanks Margo! Good information. Been to the I.D. clinic in Boston, they basiclly laughed at me, gave me antibiotics and sent me home! Thats ok. Im done being mad at them! LOL! I wrote to I.D. doctor here in my town, gave her new info on CDC and Morgs. Im praying for her heart to open up. Few years back these docs only dealt with Liver disease and AIDS, their own words. I asked for a parisitologist, thats when I got the laugh!! Silly doctors! Youre info was good though, real good! Thankyou cause I will look up these sites!

[Kritters]

The doctor who gave me soothing cream WAS an infectious disease specialist

She said it wasn't contageous and I asked how she knew that if she didn't even know what it was!



Kritters

[Margo]

Good God that's terrible Kritters. Well that just sucks.


Margo