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 fil ...