Filariasis

The filariasis or Filariasis is a parasitic disease, considered as infectious tropical disease caused by filarial nematodes of the superfamily Filarioidea, also known as filariae. The symptomatic form of the disease is most peculiar lymphatic filariasis, elephantiasis called - a thickening of the skin and underlying tissues - which was the first among infectious diseases transmitted by insects, to be discovered.
There are nine known filarial nematodes which use humans as definitive hosts. They are divided into three groups according to the niche which they occupy inside the body:
• Lymphatic Filariasis
• subcutaneous filariasis
• serous cavity filariasis.
Lymphatic filariasis is caused by the worms Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori. These filariae occupy the lymphatic system, including the lymph nodes, causing lymphedema and chronic cases, leading to the disease known as elephantiasis.
Subcutaneous filariasis is caused by loa loa (the "Maggot Eye"), Mansonella streptocerca, Onchocerca volvulus and Dracunculus medinensis (the "Guinea worm"). These worms occupy the subcutaneous fat layer.
The serous cavity filariasis is caused by worms and Mansonella ozzardi Mansonella perstans, which occupy the serous cavity of the abdomen.
In all cases, the transmission vectors are bloodsucking insects (mosquitoes and flies), or crustacean copepod in the case of Dracunculus medinens
Treatment
The antiparasitic used is diethylcarbamazine (DEC) which eliminates the microfilariae and adult worm. One can resort to reconstructive surgery in cases of elephantiasis (chronic phase).
It is important to treat secondary infections. This disease is also known as tibirius malarius malariosas esterna.
Prevention
There is a WHO program that seeks to eliminate the disease with drugs administered as prevention and insecticides. It is helpful to wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible, insect repellents and bed nets with protected waters and avoid downtime.