river blindness
Tropical parasitic blindness
River blindness is a tropical disease caused by parasitic worms transmitted through blackfly bites, leading to severe itching, skin damage, and eventually blindness.
The name comes from the flies breeding near fast-flowing rivers where the disease is most prevalent.
Also called onchocerciasis.
River blindness affects millions in sub-Saharan Africa.
Biting insect, dark-colored
- vector-borneSpread by organism intermediaries
- larvaeImmature metamorphosing creatures
- breedingReproductive cultivation of organisms
- rapidsTurbulent river section
fast-flowing · waterways · bite · parasite · lifecycle · infestation · rainy season · exposure
Exploiting a host organism
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- endemicNative to one area
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- preventableCapable of being stopped
chronic · debilitating · disfiguring · morbidity · disability · Africa · Yemen · Latin America
Diminished ability to see
- sightlessUnable to perceive visually
- darknessTotal absence of light
- itchingIrritating skin sensation
- dermatitisInflammation of the skin
skin lesions · nodules · hyperpigmentation · leopard skin · lizard skin · lymphadenitis · elephantiasis · inflammation
Antiparasitic medication for worms
- antiparasiticAgent destroying parasites
- doxycyclineTetracycline-class antimicrobial medication
- drug distributionSupplying controlled substances
- community health workersTrained local medical outreach staff
blackfly
Biting insect, dark-colored
- vector-borneSpread by organism intermediaries
- larvaeImmature metamorphosing creatures
- breedingReproductive cultivation of organisms
rapids · fast-flowing · waterways · bite · parasite · lifecycle · infestation · rainy season · exposure · agricultural workers
parasitic
Exploiting a host organism
preventable · chronic · debilitating · disfiguring · morbidity · disability · Africa · Yemen · Latin America · Guatemala
vision loss
Diminished ability to see
dermatitis · skin lesions · nodules · hyperpigmentation · leopard skin · lizard skin · lymphadenitis · elephantiasis · inflammation · scarring
ivermectin
Antiparasitic medication for worms
- antiparasiticAgent destroying parasites
- doxycyclineTetracycline-class antimicrobial medication
- drug distributionSupplying controlled substances
community health workers · prevention · insecticide · larvicide · eradication
- blindnesslow vision, vision loss, sightlessness, visual impairment, tunnel vision
- African healthmalaria, HIV, cholera, tuberculosis, TB
- Carter Centerelection monitoring, peace negotiations, disease eradication, trachoma, global health
- eye conditionsconjunctivitis, strabismus, amblyopia, macular degeneration, myopia
- tropical diseasesmalaria, dengue, cholera, yellow fever, typhoid
- Vector Diseasesmalaria, dengue, Zika, dengue fever, West Nile
river blindnesscholera
Bacterial disease causing fatal dehydration
typhoid · waterborne disease · airborne disease · tuberculosis · influenza
river blindnessvision
Ability to see
sightedness · 20/20 vision · clear sight · perfect vision · cataract surgery
river, blind, blindness, riverside, rivulet, riverbed, riverine, rive