Filariasis is a fairly common, troubling, and infectious disease that affects the lymphatic system. Filariasis is caused by microscopic worms known as filariae that get into people’s lymphatic system. In most cases, these tiny worms enter the body through a mosquito bite if the mosquito is infected with the disease. As such, filariasis spreads similarly to malaria in that it is passed from person to person via mosquitos.
Filariasis is dangerous because, even though the original worm or worms may die, they produce offspring. This trend will continue, essentially resulting in a permanent infection of filariasis. Therefore, it is important to seek medical treatment if you believe you have filariasis, which is marked by abnormal swelling, pain, discoloration, lymphedema, and inflammation of the scrotum, breasts, feet, hands, legs, or arms.
While not all people with filariasis will develop symptoms, they are dangerous when they do happen and can lead to loss of the affected part of the body. In serious cases, filariasis can even become life-threatening if it weakens the immune and lymphatic systems enough. Therefore, a timely diagnosis and treatment plan is necessary for anyone with symptomatic filariasis.
In most cases, antimicrobial medications are the most common treatment for people with filariasis. Antimicrobial medications, such as diethylcarbamazine, ivermectin, and albendazole, are the top options used to treat filariasis.
These medications get into the body’s bloodstream and lymphatic system and kill the worms that are living inside of it. Once the worms are dead, you will be unable to spread filariasis to others, and you are less likely to develop symptoms. However, because filariae worms are persistent and resilient, you must take antimicrobial medications at least several times per year for the rest of your life or until you can confirm that all the worms are dead.
Another reason that antimicrobial medications are the most common treatment for filariasis is that they have very little side effects. However, they can include the following:
Side effects will vary from person to person and may be worse depending on the severity of your condition and how many worms are living inside of you.
In some instances, antimicrobial medications will kill the worms inside you, but the worms will not be able to exit the body through normal means. This is especially true if your lymphatic system has been greatly damaged and needs time to recover.
When this happens, you may need surgery to remove the dead worms from your bloodstream and lymphatic system. Additionally, if you have symptomatic filariasis that has resulted in dangerous swelling somewhere in the body, you will need surgery to drain the fluid.
In extreme cases of filariasis, where you have sustained prolonged swelling for years and lost use of the body part in question, you will need more extensive surgery. Surgery is done to remove damaged fat, skin, and tissue from the area and to repair the limb or part in question as much as possible. However, depending on the extent of the damage, full repair and recovery are not always possible.
If you experience ongoing swelling as a result of your filariasis, you will need elephantiasis management to get rid of swelling as needed. Elephantiasis management can include using compression garments, sleeves, and devices, as well as physical therapy to reduce swelling.
In a majority of cases, people with filariasis will never develop symptoms. However, in situations where people do develop symptoms, filariasis is painful, debilitating, unsightly, and can cause permanent damage. To prevent these complications, you should get tested for filariasis regularly if you live in an area with known outbreaks. That way, your doctor can prescribe antimicrobial medications to eradicate the disease before it causes permanent damage or becomes life-threatening.