This keeps costs down and ensures the maximum benefits for patients; children and adults received praziquantel drugs to treat their schistosomiasis, as well as other medicines for intestinal worms, trachoma, and onchocerciasis (river blindness).
Diethylcarbamazine is effective in treating filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti (Bancroft filariasis), Onchocerca volvulus (onchocerciasis, or river blindness), and Loa loa (loiasis).
Onchocerciasis (river blindness) is caused by Onchocerca volvulus, which is transmitted to man by flies of the genus Simulium, which breed along fast-moving streams; the condition is widespread in southern Mexico and Guatemala and is common in Central Africa.
Other health concerns include environmental diseases such as malaria, sleeping sickness, schistosomiasis, and onchocerciasis (river blindness).
"Associations between nodding syndrome and onchocerciasis [river blindness] have been described in many of the places that have reported nodding syndrome, but no scientific proof linking it as the cause of nodding syndrome has been established," says Dr Okot.
In a related development, a study suggested that eliminating onchocerciasis through ivermectin treatment may be possible.
Some progress has been made against polio, onchocerciasis (river blindness), schistosomiasis, and leprosy, but yellow fever and cholera are common, and malaria remains a leading cause of death.
Effective health systems drive progress on all kinds of health problems – whether it's cancer, malaria or even onchocerciasis.
