[Onchocerciasis in travelers to the tropics]

Two men, aged 54 and 31 years respectively, developed an itching skin rash 18 and 6 months respectively after returning from a trip to Africa, the former also recurrent conjunctivitis. Two years and 6 months, respectively, passed from the time of first symptoms until the diagnosis of onchocerciasis was made. Both patients had an eosinophilia (10.5 and 19%) and specific antibodies against Onchocerca volvulus. Microfilaria were demonstrated in the skin of the younger man. The other one had bilateral corneal infiltrates. Both patients were treated with a single dose of ivermectin, 150 micrograms/kg. Within several months, the clinical symptoms and eosinophilia disappeared and the antibody titres decreased.