Treatment of loiasis involves chemotherapy or, in some cases, surgical removal of adult worms followed by systemic treatment. The current drug of choice for therapy is diethylcarbamazine (DEC). The recommend dosage of DEC is 8 - 10 mg/kg/d taken three times daily for 12 days. The pediatric dose is the same. DEC is effective against microfilariae and somewhat effective against macrofilariae (adult worms).
In patients with high microfilaria<unk> d, however, treatment with DEC may be contraindicated, as the rapid microfilaricidal actions of the drug can provoke encephalopathy. In these cases, albendazole administration has proved helpful, and superior to ivermectin, which can also be risky despite is slower-acting microfilaricidal effects.
Loa loa filariasis medical therapy
Ascariasis medical therapy
Whipworm infection medical therapy
Leishmaniasis medical therapy
Enterobiasis medical therapy
African trypanosomiasis medical therapy
Lymphatic filariasis medical therapy
Ancylostomiasis medical therapy