A picture speaks a thousand words: A case of ocular Loa loa

Abstract

The 'African eye worm', also known as Loa loa, is filarial nematode that is commonly, transmitted by deer flies. A history of recent travel to endemic countries near western, Africa is common in patients with Loiasis. While a majority of patients infected with Loa, loa are asymptomatic, common presentations of Loiasis include localized areas of, edema, Calbar swellings, and ocular symptoms secondary to the migration of worms, through the spaces within the eye. This case illustrated presents a healthy 31-year-old, man with no history of recent travel who presented after his friend reported that a worm, was seen in his right eye., The patient had described symptoms of pain, redness, and excessive lacrimation in his, right eye for the past five days. Although the patient originally lived in Cameroon, he, had not travelled there or to any other country since arriving to the United Arab, Emirates two years ago. On physical examination, a worm was not visualized in his, eye. However, a personal photograph of the patient taken two days prior was provided, showcasing a long thin worm migrating in the lateral subconjunctival space of his right, eye. Laboratory investigations revealed eosinophilia in this patient. The personal, photograph along with these findings allowed for the diagnosis of Loiasis, and the, patient recovered completely following an extended 42-day course of oral albendazole., This case highlights the importance of a patient's history and the physical evidence, they bring with them, especially in patients with ambiguous physical findings and, laboratory results.

Keywords: Conjunctivitis; Eosinophilia; Loa loa.

Fig. 1

Patient’s personal photograph: Loa loa in the lateral subconjunctival space of the right eye.