**5. Treatment and prophylaxis of uncomplicated loaisis**

The treatment of loiasis is based on two major microfilaricides, namely ivermectin (Mectizan® or Stromectol®) and diethylcarbamazine (DEC or Notezine®). With ivermectin, a single dose of 200 µg/kg is sufficient. DEC treatment starts with one-quarter of a tablet (one tablet = 100 mg), then the dose is doubled every day until the maximum dose of 400 mg/day is reached. These treatments must be preceded by precise counting of microfilariae in the patient's blood. If the count is higher than 8000 mf/ml, DEC will be administered at a dose of 8 mg/kg for 21 days under hospital supervision. This treatment is usually combined with antihistamine and corticosteroid therapy during the first week. Proposed chemoprophylaxis includes the use of repellents, and weekly intake of one tablet of DEC (100 mg). Plasmapheresis may be envisaged in case of very high microfilaremia (Muylle et al., 1983; Abel et al., 1986).
