Adverse events following mass ivermectin therapy for onchocerciasis

• Published in: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol. 86; no. 3; p. 284
• Main Authors: Chijioke, C P, Okonkwo, P O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-05-1992
• Subjects: Animals; Antiparasitic Agents; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Incidence; Ivermectin - adverse effects; Male; Onchocerciasis - drug therapy
• ISSN: 0035-9203
• DOI: 10.1016/0035-9203(92)90310-9

The Achi community of south-east Nigeria was given mass ivermectin therapy to control endemic onchocerciasis. 7556 subjects (75.6% of those eligible) were dosed. 992 patients (13.1%) complained of adverse effects, mostly within one week of dosing. Adverse events were mainly of the Mazzotti type. Exacerbation of pruritus (71.2%), oedema (47.4%), headache (46.4%), and worsening of rash (24.4%) were the most common. In 962 subjects (97%), adverse events were mild and did not prevent work. Two patients suffered severe sustained postural hypotension. The incidence of adverse events was greater in villages with a high load of microfilarial infection.