[Ivermectin in the treatment of onchocerciasis: feasibility, compliance and efficacy of a mass treatment].

We have carried out a massive treatment by ivermectin on 2,425 people affected with onchocercosis (River Blindness) in six villages where this disease is endemic. The people who were affected with the disease and were to be treated have accepted the treatment. The secondary reactions that the patients had experienced had the highest effects on the second and third day after receiving treatment. These secondary reactions were easily controlled. This study has permitted us to notice that the treatment of onchocercosis by ivermectin on a large scale depends on many factors which are as follows: the very long period of treatment, the importance of becoming aware of the disease, the control of secondary reactions, absenteeism, the high mobility of the population and the ethical problems.