Does river blindness cause cutaneous manifestations? As the larval forms of Onchocerca develop into adult worms at the site of the bite, they produce subcutaneous nodules called onchocercomas, where numerous microfilariae are produced. They migrate into the skin, inducing a secondary dermatitis, skin pigmentation changes, skin thickening, frank elephantiasis, and an often disabling itching. The microfilariae also may migrate into the tissue of the eye and produce blindness due to severe uveal and corneal inflammation. |
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