Coffeng L. E. auteur aut IRD Fobi G. auteur aut IRD Ozoh G. auteur aut IRD Bissek A. C. auteur aut IRD Nlatte B. O. auteur aut IRD Enyong P. auteur aut IRD Olinga J. M. O. auteur aut IRD Zoure H. G. M. auteur aut IRD Habbema J. D. F. auteur aut IRD Stolk W. A. auteur aut IRD de Vlas S. J. auteur aut IRD Boussinesq Michel auteur aut IRD Noma M. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Prevalence of skin and eye disorders in African onchocerciasis (river blindness) is well documented. However, less is known about their joint occurrence. Information on concurrence may improve our understanding of disease pathogenesis and is required to estimate the disease burden of onchocerciasis. We analysed data from 765 individuals from forest villages in the Kumba and Ngambe Health districts, Cameroon. These data were collected in 1998, as baseline data for the evaluation of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control. Concurrence of symptoms was assessed using logistic regression. Onchocerciasis was highly endemic in the study population (63% nodule prevalence among males aged >= 20). Considerable overall prevalences of onchocercal visual impairment (low vision or blindness: 4%), troublesome itch (15%), reactive skin disease (19%), and skin depigmentation (25%) were observed. The association between onchocercal visual impairment and skin depigmentation (OR 9.0, 95% CI 3.9-20.8) was partly explained by age and exposure to infection (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.2-7.7). The association between troublesome itch and reactive skin disease was hardly affected by adjustment (adjusted OR 6.9, 95% CI 4.2-11.1). Concluding, there is significant concurrence of morbidities within onchocerciasis. Our results suggest a possible role of host characteristics in the pathogenesis of depigmentation and visual impairment. Further, we propose a method to deal with concurrence when estimating the burden of disease. specialized Concurrence Correlation Onchocerciasis Skin disease Eye disease Burden of disease 052 106 4 243-251 2012 0035-9203 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010055800 10.1016/j.trstmh.2011.12.006 0035-9203 [F B010055800] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010055800 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2012/05/010055800.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2012-06-01 2017-08-23 fdi:010055800 fre