Human lymphatic filariasis
| Lymphatic filariasis | |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Elephantiasis tropica, elephantiasis arabum |
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| "Bellevue Venus" Oscar G. Mason's portrait of a woman with elephantiasis. | |
| Specialty | infectious disease |
| Symptoms | None, severe swelling of the arms, legs, or genitals |
| Causes | Filarial worms spread by mosquitos |
| Diagnostic method | Microscopic examination of blood |
| Prevention | Bed nets, mass deworming |
| Medication | Albendazole with ivermectin or diethylcarbamazine |
| Frequency | 38.5 million (2015) |
| Classification | |
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| External resources |
Lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, is a human disease caused by parasitic worms known as filarial worms. Most cases of the disease have no symptoms. Some people, however, develop a syndrome called elephantiasis, which is marked by severe swelling in the arms, legs, or genitals. The skin may become thicker as well, and the condition may become painful. The changes to the body may harm the affected person's social and economic situation.
The worms are spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes. Three types of worms are known to cause the disease: Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori, with Wuchereria bancrofti being the most common. These worms damage the lymphatic system. The disease is diagnosed by microscopic examination of blood collected during the night. The blood is typically examined as a smear after being stained with Giemsa stain. Testing the blood for antibodies against the disease may also permit diagnosis. Other roundworms from the same family are responsible for river blindness.
Prevention can be achieved by treating entire groups in which the disease exists, known as mass deworming. This is done every year for about six years, in an effort to rid a population of the disease entirely. Medications used include antiparasitics such as albendazole with ivermectin, or albendazole with diethylcarbamazine. The medications do not kill the adult worms but prevent further spread of the disease until the worms die on their own. Efforts to prevent mosquito bites are also recommended, including reducing the number of mosquitoes and promoting the use of bed nets.
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