Symptoms do not occur until a year after being infected with Onchocerciasis.
Symptoms begin with the development of a red, papular, itchy rash. Subcutaneous nodules of varying size then appear. With chronic disease lichenification, xeroderma, pseudoicthyosis and atrophy of the skin may develop. Genital elephantiasis, hydrocoeles and a "hanging groin" may also occur.
Ocular lesions also occur and these are thought to result from adult and microfilarial toxin release, hypersensitivity and irritation.
Onchocerciasis is a a common cause of blindness in affected parts of the world, and there is progressive involvement of the eye. Initially there may be lacrimation, photophobia and the sensation of a foreign body in the eye. This is then followed by conjunctivitis, iridocyclitis and chorioretinitis, and there may be secondary glaucoma and optic atrophy.
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