The use of diethylcarbamazine cream in the diagnosis of onchocerciasis
Newland, H.S.; Kaiser, A.; Taylor, H.R.
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Official Organ of Deutsche Tropenmedizinische Gesellschaft and of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit 38(2): 143-144
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0177-2392 PMID: 3629138 Document Number: 300739
Topical application of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) cream was tested as a method of diagnosis in patients with onchocerciasis. Approximately 5 ml of DEC cream (10% w/v) was rubbed into an 8 cm square area of skin over the buttocks and the patient was reexamined one day later. 29 patients with varying levels of infection were tested, and the sensitivity of the test was found to be 30.1% compared to standard skin snip assessment. It was not possible to quantify the degree of infection with the DEC cream skin test. It is concluded that the topical application of DEC is not a useful method for diagnosis in the field.