Dr. Kakande Reagan, Dr. Bri Bennett, and Dr. Jessica Pelletier discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, management, and prevention of loiasis.

Take-Home Points:

• Loa loa is a multi-system parasitic disease with potentially serious complications if untreated.
• Diagnosis requires diurnal blood smears or thick-drop methods, and Giemsa or H&E staining is necessary to diagnose the worms appropriately.
• Microfilarial load dictates the treatment strategy.
• There is a risk of life-threatening encephalopathy not only with ivermectin, but also with DEC, which is the first-line therapy for loiasis.
• Prevention involves avoiding Chrysops fly bites.
• Loiasis complicates MDA in areas with co-endemicity for onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. Caution should be used with drug selection in co-endemic areas.

You can view the full show notes and references here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FFoxvW_quKvmRS2Rph09-azch8jb61aemniR8AOX8Ps/edit?usp=sharing

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