Abstract
In a study of the safety, acceptability, and efficacy of ivermectin for community-based mass treatment of onchocerciasis, the drug was issued twice, one year apart, to the population of a rubber plantation (14000 people) in Liberia, where over 80% of the adults have Onchocerca volvulusinfection. The plantation microfilarial load in a sample of adults was reduced by 86% 6 months after initial treatment and by 78% after 1 year. Compliance was 97% with each round of treatment. After the initial treatment of 7699 people, 101 (1·3%) had moderate adverse reactions. After re-treatment only 37 (0·5%) people had moderate adverse reactions. No ivermectin-related death or severe adverse reactions occurred. The data show that community-based treatment with ivermectin is well accepted and effective in reducing microfilarial loads. Ivermectin is likely to provide the first realistic means of chemotherapy-based control of onchocerciasis on a mass scale.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1377-1380 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | The Lancet |
Volume | 335 |
Issue number | 8702 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 9 1990 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine