How do you get filariasis

Typically, lymphatic filariasis is treated with diethylcarbamazine. This drug is taken by mouth for 1 or 12 days.

It kills microfilariae and some adult worms. Before treating people with diethylcarbamazine, doctors check them for loiasis Loiasis Loiasis is infection of tissues under the skin or under the clear outer membrane that covers the eye conjunctiva with the roundworm Loa loa.

Itchy swellings may appear, mainly on the arms It causes itching, a rash, sometimes with scarring, as well as eye symptoms that may lead to blindness.

The infection is spread Chronic swelling requires meticulous skin care. People must be careful not to damage the skin and to thoroughly clean any minor cuts and scrapes.

Such care helps prevent bacterial infections. Swelling may be reduced by wrapping elastic bandages around the affected limb or by elevating the limb. If elephantiasis, including swelling in the scrotum, is severe, surgery may be done to improve drainage in the lymphatic system. Bacterial skin infections are treated with antibiotics given by mouth. The antibiotics may slow or prevent progression to elephantiasis. For lung-related problems, diethylcarbamazine, taken for 14 to 21 days, is effective.

However, the infection recurs in about one fourth of people. For them, treatment must be repeated. Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Manual was first published in as a service to the community.

Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics. When the infected mosquito bites another person, the microscopic worms pass from the mosquito through the skin, and travel to the lymph vessels. In the lymph vessels they grow into adults.

An adult worm lives for about 5—7 years. The adult worms mate and release millions of microscopic worms, called microfilariae, into the blood.

People with the worms in their blood can give the infection to others through mosquitoes. Repeated mosquito bites over several months to years are needed to get lymphatic filariasis. People living for a long time in tropical or sub-tropical areas where the disease is common are at the greatest risk for infection. Short-term tourists have a very low risk. An infection will show up on a blood test. Most infected people are asymptomatic and will never develop clinical symptoms, despite the fact that the parasite damages the lymph system.

A small percentage of persons will develop lymphedema or, in men, a swelling of the scrotum called hydrocele. Lymphedema is caused by improper functioning of the lymph system that results in fluid collection and swelling. This mostly affects the legs, but can also occur in the arms, breasts, and genitalia. Most people develop these clinical manifestations years after being infected.

The swelling and the decreased function of the lymph system make it difficult for the body to fight germs and infections. Affected persons will have more bacterial infections in the skin and lymph system. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. Ivermectin is safe and has been used widely, however it: Requires many years of repeatedly taking the drug to reduce disease burden and eventually achieve elimination Cannot be used in areas where people also are burdened with high levels of juvenile Loa loa worms, because it can result in safety issues that can be fatal Only partly improves or prevents river blindness symptoms such as itching, dermatitis, and blindness because people continue to be affected by the adult worms living in their bodies.

What new treatments for river blindness are needed? What river blindness treatments are we working on? How do you get river blindness? Insect bites: river blindness is transmitted through the bite of a blackfly infected with Onchocerca volvulus worms What are the symptoms of river blindness? River blindness is not particularly life-threatening, but it causes long-term suffering and chronic illness: visual impairment and blindness severe itching dermatitis nodules under the skin around adult worms How is river blindness diagnosed?

River blindness is diagnosed by identifying juvenile worms in skin snips. In patients with nodules in the skin, the nodule can be surgically removed and examined for adult worms. Infections in the eye can be diagnosed with a slit-lamp examination of the front part of the eye where the larvae or the lesions they cause are visible. Making medical history for neglected patients.

Is transmitted by the bite of a tsetse fly and causes severe neurological disorders We delivered a revolutionary new drug to replace toxic treatments, and have ongoing trials to eliminate this disease. Stay connected. Get our latest news, personal stories, research articles, and job opportunities.