Lymphatic Filariasis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the infected mosquito bites you it injects round worm-like parasites. These parasites usually make their way into the lymphatic system and camp out there for up to 7 years. The worm-like parasites that cause this terror are called Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori. Wuchereria bancrofti is the most common.

Lymphatic Filariasis is a deadly parasite spread by infected mosquitoes.

It kills thousands each year. It is feared by all; yes you know what I'm talking about the infamous Lymphatic Filariasis!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How It's Spread

It's spread by mosquitoes. No ordinary mosquito an infected mosquito and not just one kind. When an infected mosquito bites you it releases the worm-like parasites which usually flee to your lymph vessels. The females later release large amounts of larvae, which will live in the bloodstream. The parasites will live in you for up to seven years then, they will reproduce.

 

 

Symptoms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affected Areas

The symptoms for lymphatic Filariasis usually get worse over time. The symptoms are visible 5-18 months after the bite of the infected mosquito. The symptoms are swelling usually legs and groin, infections, fevers, severe inflammation in the lymph vessels, elephantiasis (only 5% of people get this), pulmonary eosinophilia and scarring. The legs are often infected. To check if you have lymphatic Filariasis a blood test looks for larvae in your blood.

 

To prevent your body from being over-taken by parasites take the usually precautions for keeping mosquitoes from biting you if you don't want to bitten. (There in no vaccine). Some countries like Eygpt are giving many people worm killing drugs so mosquitoes cannot spread the disease. Controling mosquito populations and using insecticide and nets should help.

The treatment is quite simple but it is affective. If you have lymphatic Filariasis you should take bathes to keep your skin healthy from infection, take medicine to kill the parasites and pressure bandages for swelling if needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The parasites originated from the tropics. The most common Wuchereria
bancrofti is found in Africa, India Southeast Asia, The Pacific Islands, The
Caribbean and South America.
This nasty worm affects about 100 million people. The other two (Brugia
malayi and Brugia timori) are found in Southeast Asia and affect another
12 million.
Between all the infections worldwide about 40 million people are left
incapacitated or disabled. In fact it's the leading cause of long term disability
on the planet.

 

Prevention

 

Writing by Victoria
Reference: Please see credits

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