Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a painful and profoundly disfiguring disease. The goal of the gpelf is to ensure that all the countries where the disease is endemic would have been transmissionfree or would have entered postintervention mass drug administration mda surveillance by 2020. This major achievement, accomplished in the worlds third most lymphatic filariasisendemic country, presents an important example for africa and elsewhere about what may be possible in other hard hit. Manual lymphatic drainage is the application of light, flowing strokes of massage in specific patterns with the goal of alleviating lymph edema after lymph node resection or radiation therapy. Lymphatic filariasis elimination can viably contribute to the achievement of the millennium development goals. Diethylcarbamazine dec is the treatment of choice for lymphatic filariasis. During a blood meal, an infected mosquito typically mansonia spp. About 5 crore people in india were carrying the worm as of the early. Adl may occur due to immune mediated responses to dying adult worms. In fact, most people with lymphatic filariasis are unaware they have it.
Inflammation around those worms result in obstruction of lymphatic flow and complications ensue. Prevalence of lymphatic filariasis in indonesia based on the data from 20002009. The treatment and prevention of lymphatic filariasis and other filarial infections, including onchocerciasis, loiasis, and mansonellosis are discussed separately. The causative agents of lymphatic filariasis lf include the mosquitoborne filarial nematodes wuchereria bancrofti, brugia malayi, b. Lf is a main cause of longterm disability worldwide. Some people, however, develop a syndrome called elephantiasis, which is marked by severe swelling in the arms, legs, breasts, or genitals. Manual lymphatic drainage an overview sciencedirect topics. In the context of lymphatic filariasis, the target population for mass. It is estimated that 91% of lf cases are caused by wuchereria bancrofti while brugia. Lymphatic filariasis poses a grave threat to india. Summary of the current situation of filariasis in indonesia. Lymphatic filariasis lf affects more than 120 million people worldwide. This study explores community valuation of lf elimination. Podoconiosis and lymphatic filariasis are both characterised by lymphoedema of the limbs, leading to enlarged legs, male genitals and female breasts 79.
Elephantiasis disease causes, symptoms and elephantiasis. Efforts to eliminate this disease require sustained community participation. Rheingans rd, haddix ac, messonnier ml, meltzer m, mayard g, addiss dg. Progress report 20002009 and strategic plan 20102020 of the global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. Lymphatic filariasis is a debilitating disease involving the lymphatic system with. The first case of elephantiasis in korea was reported in 1927, and it was called by various names. Filariasis is fundamentally a disease of lymphatic obstruction. Lymphatic filariasis can be asymptomatic, where infected people have no symptoms and never will develop symptoms. Lymphatic filariasis lf is a disabling parasitic disease. Lessons from lymphatic filariasis elimination and the.
In addition, dec should be used with extreme caution in patients with circulating loa loa microfilaria because of. There is some evidence that suggests that a course of the antibiotic doxycycline may prevent lymphedema from getting worse. However, when coinfection with other filarial organisms exists or in the context of mass drug administration, the treatment course must be adjusted accordingly. Since 2004, two drug therapy for lymphatic filariasis has been in place but the addition of the third drug now will give a boost to the overall campaign. The new approach to control of filariasis is based on annual treatment of. Lymphatic filariasis was rare in children, but prevalence increased in individuals above 10 years, whereas a strong increase in hiv was only seen above 18 years of age. Clinical approach the treatment of choice for lymphatic filariasis is diethylcarbamazine dec, although this agent is contraindicated in patients coinfected with onchocerciasis and must be used with caution in patients with loiasis, since severe adverse events can occur in individuals with high microfilarial loads. A young boy measured in morogoro, tanazania to make sure he gets the right dose of preventative treatment. India has missed earlier deadlines to eradicate the disease by 2015 and 2017. Lymphatic filariasis is an infection that affects the lymphatic circulation and is caused by wuchereria bancrofti, a parasitic threadworm. The standard method for diagnosing active infection is the identification of microfilariae in a blood smear by microscopic examination. The infection is spread by mosquitoes and it is important to know the causes, symptoms and treatment of lymphatic filariasis to treat and prevent this condition.
Now lets talk about filariasis, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment. Other people that are infected will present with acute clinical symptoms 3. Filarial disease is influenced by the extent and duration of exposure to. The skin may become thicker as well, and the condition may become painful. Prospects for elimination of bancroftian filariasis by mass drug treatment in. Ppt lymphatic filariasis powerpoint presentation free. Lymphatic filariasis is an infection transmitted by bloodsucking mosquitoes with. The parasites transmitting the infection are wuchereria bancrofti, brugia malayi, and brugia timori. Lymphatic filariasis lf is a vectorborne parasitic disease endemic in several countries in africa, asia and the americas. Diethylcarbamazine dec, 6 mgkg daily for 12 days, which has both macro and microfilaricidal properties, remains the treatment of choice for the individual with active lymphatic filariasis microfilaremia, antigen positivity, or adult worms on ultrasound, although albendazole 400 mg twice daily for 21 days has also demonstrated. Assessing the epidemiology of soiltransmitted helminths during a. Ivermectin for the treatment of wuchereria bancrofti filariasis. Review of dancing parasites in lymphatic filariasis ncbi. The tdr task force on communitydirected treatment of lymphatic filariasis and onchocer ciasis selected several multidisciplinary teams to participate in a multicountry study.
Periodic examination of blood for infection and initiation of recommended treatment are also likely to prevent clinical manifestations. Strategies and tools for the controlelimination of lymphatic filariasis. Brochures filariasis lymphoedema treatment in india. Results in a spectrum of clinicalsubclinical disease. Lymphatic filariasis introduction stanford university. The aim was to develop effective and sustainable largescale treatment methods for lymphatic filaria. The adult worms only live in the human lymph system. The global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis gpelf was launched in response to the call proposed at the 50th world health assembly. What is lymphatic filariasis, know its causes, symptoms. Most of the pathology associated with lf is limited to the lymphatics. In this manual it is impossible to mention all the locally used traditional. Most infected people are asymptomatic and never develop clinical symptoms.
Acute symptoms of the disease include adenolymphangitis adl this presents with sudden onset of fever and painful lymphadenopathy. Lymphatic filariasis in india is the presence of the disease lymphatic filariasis in india and all the social response to it. A randomised comparative study to evaluate the efficacy of homoeopathic treatment vs standard allopathy treatment for acute adenolymphangitis due to lymphatic filariasis jaya gupta, rajk manchanda, lipipushpa debata, gupta payal and sujata choudhary et al. Global elimination of lymphatic filariasis the lancet.
Before dec treatment for lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis should be excluded in all patients with a consistent exposure history because of the possibility of severe exacerbations of skin and eye involvement mazzotti reaction. Lymphatic filariasis is a human disease caused by parasitic worms known as filarial worms. For lymphatic filariasis, diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin in combination with albendazole is used as the basis for the global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. Surveillance and vector control of lymphatic filariasis in. Lymphatic filariasis is a vectorborne parasitic disease that is endemic in many. The clinical manifestations of lymphatic filariasis. Podoconiosis is clinically distinguished from lymphatic filariasis through commonly being ascending and bilateral but asymmetric, while lymphatic filariasis is often unilateral 7,10. A 49yearold woman with morbid obesity and hypertension presented with extensive areas of redness and weeping sores on her legs. Education and information about lymphatic filariasis treatment. Contact mp xvii779, uliyathadka,madhur road, kasaragod 671124 phone. Lymphatic filariasis infects 120 million people in 73 countries worldwide and continues to. Lymphatic filariasis is one of the neglected diseases. Of this total, 90% are caused by w bancrofti and 10% by b malayi.
Filariasis is a serious medical disorder caused by parasites. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the cdc website the centers for disease control and prevention cdc cannot attest to the accuracy of a nonfederal website. Whos african and southeast asia regions harbour 94% of the population living in endemic areas, and 98% of the infected population. Although there have been some significant successes in the control of the disease, in most endemic countries the burden of lymphatic filariasis remains unaffected, or is. Efsumb guidelines on interventional ultrasound invus, part iii. This very painful, disfiguring and disabling disease is usually acquired in childhood and manifested in adulthood. Lymphatic filariasis is an important public health and socioeconomic problem affecting over 120 million people worldwide. While the infection is usually acquired in childhood, its visible manifestations occur later in life, causing temporary or permanent disability. Diethylcarbamazine an overview sciencedirect topics. Typically, lymphatic filariasis does not have clinical symptoms, such as flulike symptoms, fever, or vomiting. Lymphatic filariasis the fight against lymphatic filariasis creating hope for millions image. Lymphatic filariasis lf is also known as elephantiasis. Atrisk population no longer needing treatment for lymphatic filariasis in countries that have achieved elimination or are scaling down, 2019 country lymphatic filariasis lf treatment no longer needed number of districts where treatment is no longer needed population in lf endemic districts where treatment is. In a small percentage of infected people, lymphedema, or swelling, will occur, typically appearing years after the initial infection.
Treatment of lymphatic filariasis in adults and children 18 months of age involves either a 1 day or 12 day treatment course of dec 6mgkgday. The epidemiology, diagnosis, and clinical features of lymphatic filariasis and other filarial infections including onchocerciasis, loiasis, and mansonellosis are discussed separately. Pdf treatmentseeking behavior and treatment practices. One day treatment is generally as effective as the 12day regimen. Lymphatic filariasis is a vectorborne nematode infection caused by wucherea bancrofti, brugia malayi and brugia timori, and more than 100 million people are affected worldwide 1,2. She had an 8year history of chronic venous stasis and lymphedema. Lymphatic filariasis lf is a disabling parasitic disease caused by microscopic worms that are spread from persontoperson by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Lymphatic filariasis is one of the most debilitating neglected tropical diseases, the clinical manifestations of which include painful and incapacitating lymphoedema. Neglected tropical diseases lymphatic filariasis lf, or elephantiasis, is.
Control morbidity relief of suffering communitylevel care of those with disease. Pdf lymphatic filariasis lf is a mosquitoborne, tropical disease caused by filarial worms. Assessment of treatment impact on lymphatic filariasis in. The parasite undergoes several stages in its life cycle, wherein, it rapidly multiplies within the human body to produce smaller parasitic forms known as microfilariae infecting the mosquitoes which are vectors of the infection. Currently 856 million people in 52 countries around the world live in areas where they are at risk of lf of which 499. Halfway toward eliminating lymphatic filariasis pdf, 2. Avoidance of mosquito bites through personal protection measures or communitylevel vector control is the best option to prevent lymphatic filariasis. The definitions given below apply to the terms used in this manual. Lymphatic filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by microscopic, threadlike worms that only live in the human lymph system, which maintains the bodys fluid balance and fights infections. Lymphatic filariasis commonly known as elephantiasis is a disease caused by parasites or worms microfilariae that weaken and disfigure a person. The treatment plan provides 40 crore people in india with medication to eliminate the parasite.
Lymphatic filariasis usaids neglected tropical disease. In india 99% of infections come from a type of mosquito spreading a type of worm through a mosquito bite. Communitydirected treatment of lymphatic filariasis in africa. The lymph system maintains the bodys fluid balance and fights infections. Lymphatic filariasis management 44 twin pillars of lymphatic filariasis elimination. For tropical pulmonary eosinophilia tpe, a longer dec treatment course of 1421 days is generally recommended.
Guidelines on elimination of lymphatic filariasis india. The threadlike worm that can cause lymphatic filariasis is a blooddwelling filarial nematode, also called a roundworm, from the aschelminth phyla reference 2. Willingness to pay for prevention and treatment of lymphatic filariasis in leogane, haiti. According to the world health organization, lymphatic filariasis has a major destructive affect on social, agricultural and economic conditions in all countries where the. The adult worms live in the human lymphatic system and can cause lymphedema swelling affecting the legs, arms, and breasts. According to the global alliance to eliminate lymphatic filariasis, lymphatic filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by threadlike worms living in the human lymphatic system reference 1.
Download fulltext pdf download fulltext pdf treatmentseeking behavior and treatment practices of lymphatic filariasis patients with lymphoedema in the colombo district, sri lanka. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 2. Pathology of lymphatic filariasis the pathology associated with lymphatic filariasis results from a complex interplay of the pathogenic potential of the parasite, the tissue response of the host and external bacterial and fungal infections. Lymphatic filariasis, considered globally as a neglected tropical disease ntd, is a parasitic disease caused by microscopic, threadlike worms. Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis the lancet. Who communitydirected treatment of lymphatic filariasis. Lymphatic filariasis is spread from person to person by mosquitoes. For onchocerciasis, ivermectin is the sole drug used for control programmes administered annually or biannually principally though communitydirected treatment. Lymphatic filariasis elimination program carter center. Testing of 2104 individuals aged 094 years before antifilarial treatment revealed a prevalence of 24.