Résumé

Introduction: Onchocerciasis is a parasitic infection caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus. It is endemic in several tropical countries. It causes disabling changes in the skin and subcutaneous tissues and ultimately leads to blindness. We report a case of cutaneous onchocerciasis diagnosed in our laboratory. Case presentation: A 27-year-old male patient presented with multiple painful nodular lesions on the anterior aspect of the left thigh and the inner aspect of the left knee, which had been progressing for over a year, associated with an unlabeled dermatosis. The histological diagnosis was Onchocerca volvulus. The patient was treated with ivermectin (150 µg/kg, repeated at 6 months), with complete resolution within six months. Conclusion: This is a neglected tropical disease, still endemic in our regions. Diagnosis can be made based on histology. Effective treatment is needed to prevent the main complication, blindness.

Mot-clés :

cutaneous onchocerciasis, filariasis, neglected tropical diseases