Case of Filaria loa

A young woman returns from the West African coast plagued not only by fever and dysentery, but by an unsettling sensation in her eyes—a worm that seems to crawl just beneath the surface. She describes a persistent tickle, occasional redness, and swelling that intensifies in warm rooms, yet disappears when she steps outside. The creature’s movements are tied to temperature, surfacing near a cozy fire and retreating into deeper tissue when the air cools, making her daily life a constant battle with irritation.

When she finally seeks help, the physician conducts meticulous examinations that yield nothing—until a sudden flare of symptoms forces a closer look. In a brief, tense moment, the doctor spots the slender parasite writhing under the conjunctiva, its slow, tortuous glide across the eye’s sclera visible for a heartbeat. The narrative centers on this extraordinary clinical encounter, blending the patient’s lived experience with a doctor’s precise, observational skill, and sets the stage for the delicate removal that follows.