Top 10 Symptoms of Elephantiasis!

The Top 10 Symptoms of Elephantiasis are very important, so because  Elephantiasis is a very serious disease that can be a big problem. Incidentally, Filariasis, also known as Elephantiasis , is an infectious disease  caused by a parasite with the scientific name Wuchereria bancrofti.

The parasite blocks the lymphatic vessels affecting the individual’s circulation. The infected limb becomes extremely swollen, the legs , for example, when affected are compared to the legs of an elephant. Filariasis occurs through the bite of an infected mosquito, which transmits the parasite larvae to humans. Individuals of all ages can be infected.

Causes of Elephantiasis:  Elephantiasis is caused by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same that causes dengue; Anapholes or Mansonia, at night or from the blowfly.

The Main Symptoms of Elephantiasis:  Some of the   Symptoms of Elephantiasis  are very common that can be something bad because through Elephantiasis Symptoms your treatment can be more effective:

  • Asthma.
  • Pericarditis.
  • Muscle pain.
  • High fever.
  • Headache.
  • Light intolerance.
  • Allergic reactions.
  • Itching through the body.
  • Lymphedema of the arms, legs, breasts or scrotum.

This Elephantiasis Symptoms  can appear from 1 month to 10 years after the insect bite.

Transmission of Elephantiasis:  By the bite of transmitting mosquitoes with infective larvae. In Brazil, Culex quinquefasciatus is the main transmitter. In general, microfilariae have periodicity to circulate in peripheral blood  , being more detected at night, between 11pm and 1am. It is not a disease  transmitted from person to person. The biological cycle occurs as follows: a transmitting insect bites a man infected with microfilaremia and transmits it to another individual, after the maturation of the microfilariae in the vector, which occurs between 12 and 14 days after a blood meal. Microfilaremia can last 5 to 10 years.

Elephantiasis 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 of the skin as possible , insect repellents, and sleep protected with hammocks.

Useful links: 

Treatment of Elephantiasis: The most used drugs are: Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and Ivermectin (IVM), or a combination of both.

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