Lymphatic Filariasis

Lymphatic Filariasis

* Neglected tropical disease

* NTDs include infections that chronically disable anyone who has one. They infect more than 1 billion people all over the world, often within the African continent in rural areas.

* Parasitic

* “thread-like” worms called Wuchereria bancrofti (aka Filarial nematodes) are the parasite associated with this condition, although mosquitoes are also involved in the infection process, acting as a carrier of the disease from one infected person to many who are susceptible.

* Origination

* Filarial Nematodes do not live out in nature, as their only known reservoirs are humans.

* Spread of Infection

* Mosquitoes are the only known way to spread this infection because when they bite an affected person, the nematodes infect the mosquito by traveling through the blood. Once the infected mosquito bites a clean person, they risk being infected.

* Other conditions

* Lymphedema- the buildup of lymph fluid within the subcutaneous (fatty) layer of the skin, just beneath the dermis.

* Elephantiasis- a condition in which a body part becomes severely enlarged due to the blockage of lymphatic vessels.

* Hydrocele- the accumulation of lymph fluid in the testicles and/or groin area

* Symptoms?

* Most times there are no noticeable symptoms that develop, and most times the only way one can tell if they have Lymphatic Filariasis is if they are tested, or if they have one of the other conditions above.

* Treatment

* People already infected will need to take the drug Diethylcarbamazine (DEC). This acts as a poison for the adult Filarial nematodes.

* This medication is no longer used in the U.S., due to the rarity of this disease, but can be obtained from the CDC if any lab tests prove to be positive.