FILARIASIS

• Filiriasis


  Other Term: Elephantiasis
• Filiriasis


  • Parasitic disease caused by an African eye worm, microscopic thread-like worm
  • Extremely debilitating and stigmatizing disease
• Etiologic Agents


  Wuchereria bancrofti<|>Brugia malayi<|>Brugia timori<|>Loa loa
• Mode of Transmission


  Mosquito bite (Aedes poecilius)
• Incubation Period


  8 to 16 months
• Clinical Manifestations


  1. Asymptomatic Stage

  2. Acute Stage: Lymphadenitis, Lymphangitis, Epididymitis, Orchitis

  3. Chronic Stage: Hydrocele, Lymphedema, Elephantiasis
• Diagnosis


  • Physical examination
  • History taking
  • Nocturnal Blood Examination (NBE)
  • Immunochromatographic Test (ICT)
  • Rapid Assessment Method: Antigen test can be done at daytime
• Treatment


  Diethylcarbamazine citrate (Hetrazan)
• Nursing Management


  1. Health Education

  2. Environmental Sanitation

  3. Psychological and emotional support

  4. Personal hygiene
• Prevention and Control


  • Mosquito net
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Yearly dose of medicine