The following 3 types of parasitic roundworms cause elephantiasis:. Wuchereria bancrofti worms cause 90 percent of all cases of elephantiasis. Brugia malayi causes most of the others. Firstly, mosquitoes become infected with roundworm larvae when they take a blood meal from an infected human. Finally, the worm larvae migrate to the lymphatics via the bloodstream and mature in the lymph system. The regions where these roundworms are found include :. A blood examination will be required to confirm a parasitic infection.
In most parts of the world the roundworms are most active at night, so the blood sample must be collected during this time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. Alternative tests may be used to detect the parasites, but they may show negative results because symptoms can develop years after the initial infection. X-rays and ultrasounds may also be done to rule out other conditions that could be causing the swelling.
People with an active infection can take medications to kill the worms in the blood. These medications stop the spread of the illness to others, but they do not completely kill off all the parasites. Other symptoms may be managed with :. Not everyone with elephantiasis will need medication.
This is because they may no longer carry the worms in their system despite the presence of symptoms. People can manage the swelling and skin infections in these cases by:. Surgery may be recommended in rare cases to remove damaged lymphatic tissue or relieve pressure in certain areas, such as the scrotum. Some people with elephantiasis may wish to seek emotional and psychological support in the form of:. Without medical treatment, the microscopic parasites may live for years in the lymphatic system, causing destruction and damage.
The lymph system is responsible for transporting excess fluid and proteins and fighting infections. Sometimes referred to as Elephantiasis tropica, it is a neglected and stigmatised mosquito-borne disease. It damages the human lymphatic system, leading to disfiguring swelling of limbs, breasts and genitals. Despite a decade of World Health Organisation WHO -led drug administration to halt its spread, the disease is endemic in 72 countries, puts about 1. Here they tell The Conversation Africa more about the illness and the challenge of eradicating it.
People are primarily infected with the disease through mosquito bites. In Africa, the Anopheles mosquito is the main vector. The female Anopheles mosquito transmits microscopic filarial parasitic worms Wuchereria bancrofti , Brugia timori and Brugia malayi from one person to another during its feeding process. These worms then live and grow in the human lymphatic system, causing disruption and damage.
The lymphatic system is part of the immune system — it works primarily to maintain the body fluid levels and protects the body from pathogens. The primary method of prevention is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes in endemic areas. The disease is common in tropical regions of the world, where water collects outdoors and there are poor sanitary conditions.
Infection takes more than one bite — those most at risk are people who are bitten repeatedly over time. Research in Ghana , for example, shows that risk factors include a mixture of environmental and economic conditions. These include proximity to the coast or short savanna grass areas, rainfall and temperature, season, and poverty and poor housing. People with lymphatic filariasis experience acute filarial attacks. Filarial attacks involve a fever, and swelling and peeling skin on the affected areas of the body.
The causes of the attacks are believed to include microbial contamination and immune reactions to the presence of the live or dead adult worms. The main visible sign of the illness is disfiguring swelling, followed by peeling of the affected area. It can lead to enlargement of body parts particularly the limbs. It also spreads from person to person through mosquitoes. Infection occurs when thread-like filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. Adult worms lodge in the lymphatic vessels and disrupt the normal function of the lymphatic system, causing obstruction and accumulation of lymphatic fluid and enlargement of infected areas.
The worms can live in the lymph glands for approximately 6—8 years and, during their life time, produce millions of microfilariae immature larvae that circulate in the blood. Living in mosquito breeding sites. Inflammation of lymph vessels. Some work tasks Such as: workers in humanitarian field and military personnel. Travelling to or residing in affected areas. The majority of infections are asymptomatic, causing damage to the lymphatic system and the kidneys without signs this stage may last for several months.
In other cases, acute and chronic symptoms may appear, when the disease develops into chronic condition it leads to:. Elevated body temperature. Headache, shivering and feeling tired. Swelling and enlargement of skin, tissues and limbs lymphatic edema. Genitals swelling. Ulceration and roughness in the skin.
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