Table 1 |
|
The types of reactions seen in the treatment of onchocerciasis with oral diethylcarbamazine, ivermectin* and others |
| EXPECTED ("ACCEPTABLE") REACTIONS |
| • "Classical Mazzotti reactions" |
| Pruritus |
| Papular dermal response |
| Dermal edema |
| Headache |
| Nausea |
| Lethargy |
| EXCESSIVE ("UNACCEPTABLE") REACTIONS |
| • Excessive forms of the normally expected Mazzotti reactions |
| Temporal association with treatment |
| Lethargy |
| Papular, pruritic, and edematous dermal responses |
| Severe headache |
| Bone ache |
| Inability to work |
| Prostration (e.g. Sowda patients) |
| • Major neurological changes |
| Coma |
| Epilepsy |
| • Specific (non-Mazzotti) dermal responses |
| Drug-related allergic responses (dermal plaques etc.) |
| • Other responses |
| Unsubstantiated reports (bleeding, etc.) |
|
|
|
* Ivermectin produces reactions significantly less in severity and duration. |
|
Mackenzie et al. Filaria Journal 2003 2(Suppl 1):S5 doi:10.1186/1475-2883-2-S1-S5 |
