The eye insect, also known as Loa Loa or Loiasis, is an infection caused by the presence of Loa loa larva in the body, which usually goes to the eye system, where it causes symptoms such as irritation, pain, itching and redness of the eyes, for example.
Usually, the larva is released when the mango fly, very common in some parts of Africa, repeatedly bites the skin, depositing the larvae in the blood, which migrate to the final infection site, which in the case of Loa loa are mainly the eyes. . . There, the larvae develop into adulthood and release larvae that circulate in the blood.
- The insect has a cure and it is usually necessary to undergo the treatment indicated by the ophthalmologist.
- Which may include the use of eye drops to relieve symptoms and pills to remove the larvae from the body.
See other causes that can make the eye painful and red, without the presence of larvae.
Loa loa infection usually does not produce symptoms, especially in people living in the area where the fly is located, but in the most advanced stages of infection, that is, when the larvae reach the eyes, the main symptoms that may occur are:
In addition, in some cases you may notice the presence of the larva in the eye, it is important to consult the ophthalmologist so that treatment can be started and the larva removed. In most cases, the eye insect is present in one eye and there may be no symptoms in both eyes.
In addition, the larva can also remain on the skin and, in these cases, it is common for small bumps, which do not hurt, to appear in the arms and legs, especially in areas close to the joints.
Diagnosis of eye infection should be made by assessing symptoms by the general practitioner or identifying the larvae in the eye. In addition, blood tests are indicated to identify the presence of larvae in the blood, and it is important that the sample is done in the morning.
In addition, your doctor may order immunological tests to check for antibodies against Loa loa, confirming the diagnosis.
Treatment should always be guided by an ophthalmologist, as it may vary depending on the degree of larval development and symptoms present. The most commonly used remedies are:
In more advanced cases, surgery to remove larvae from the eye may be recommended, especially those that are more superficial. However, surgery does not cure the disease and therefore medications should be maintained according to your doctor’s instructions.
Treatment usually works well and, as a result, the person usually has no sequelae. However, in the most severe cases, vision problems can occur even after treatment.
Once the Loa loa larva has settled in the body after the mango fly bite, the best way to avoid contracting the disease is to reduce exposure to this type of fly. To do this, some tips include:
Mango flies are generally more active during the day and therefore these precautions should be maintained primarily while the sun shines.