Filariasis

Overview

Filariasis is mainly caused by the parasite Wuchereria bancrofti carried by the mosquito. A variant of the parasite called Brugia malayi and Brugia timori is responsible for causing the disease in about 10 percent of sufferers. The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled lymphatic filariasis as a main cause of disability worldwide, with an estimated 40 million individuals affected by the disfiguring features of the disease.

Signs and Symptoms

Fever, Inguinal or axillary lymphadenopathy, Testicular and/or inguinal pain, Skin exfoliation, Limb or genital swelling, Lymphedema, Dry and paroxysmal nocturnal cough, Wheezing, Dyspnea, Anorexia, Malaise, Weight loss

Common Causes

Bitten by a mosquito that carries the parasite (Wuchereria bancrofti)

Risk Factors

Living in the endemic areas: subtropics of Asia, Africa, Western Pacific, America(Brazil, Guyana, Dominican Republic)

Investigation Techniques

Full blood count, Urine analysis for chyluria, Skin test, Slit-lamp examination for the eys, Chest X-ray, Ultrasound, Lymphoscintigraphy

Treatment and Prevention

Medical treatment with diethylcarbamazine in early stage, In the early stage of limb swelling, intermittent pneumatic compression helps, A hydrocele is treated usually by operation of excision and eversion of the sac, In onchocerciasis, nodulectomy with local anesthetic is a common treatment to reduce skin and eye complications.