We need you! Join our contributor community and become a WikEM editor through our open and transparent promotion process.
Lymphatic filariasis
From WikEM
Contents
Background
- Also known as elephantiasis
- Causative agents (transmitted by mosquito):
- Wuchereria bancrofti
- Brugia malayi
- Brugia timori
- No known natural animal reservoir[1]
- Larvae migrate to lymphatic vessels and mature into adults (can take 6-12 months[1])
- These worms block lymphatic vessels, which causes the clinical presentation of the disease
- Coinfection is common (filiariae cause immunosuppression and allows for malaria and/or TB to thrive)
Clinical Features
- 2/3 will be asymptomatic[2]
- Chronic infection leads to massive peripheral edema with thickening of overlying skin particularly in lower extremities and genitalia
- Recurrent cellulitis is common
Differential Diagnosis
Evaluation
- Establish possible exposure in endemic areas
- Serology (peripheral blood) - draw at night due to periodicity of filiariae
- Tests for W. bancrofti
- PCR
- Antigen detection
- Ultrasound may occasionally show movement of adult filiariae
Management
- Diethylcarbamazine (DEC):
- Day 1: 50mg PO
- Day 2: 50mg TID
- Day 3: 100mg TID
- Days 4-21: 6mg/kg/day divided TID
- Ivermectin + Albendazole
- Combined treatment with diethylcarbamazine/albendazole may be more effective than single drug treatment
- Meticulous skin care to prevent superinfection/cellulitis
- Surgical management of scrotal elephantiasis and chronic lymphatic obstruction
Disposition
- Generally may be discharged unless complicated by other factors.
See Also
External Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chandy A, Thakur AS, Singh MP, Manigauha A. A review of neglected tropical diseases: filariasis. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2011 Jul;4(7):581-6. doi: 10.1016/S1995-7645(11)60150-8.
- ↑ Mark J Taylor, Achim Hoerauf, Moses Bockarie. Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis. Lancet 2010; 376: 1175–85
Authors
Michael Holtz, Ross Donaldson, Neil Young, Daniel Ostermayer
