Lymphatic filariasis in a young girl

ABSTRACT

Lymphatic filariasis known as Elephantiasis put more than a billion people at risk. Over 120 million have already been affected by it; out of which over 40 million are seriously incapacitated and disfigured by the disease 1.2. Elephantiasis is a complication that occurs due to repeated infections caused by three species of filarial worms. Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi are the most common and Brugia timori is rarely implicated 2. In its most obvious manifestations, lymphatic filariasis causes enlargement of the entire leg or arm, the genitals, vulva and breasts. In endemic communities, 10-50% of men and up to 10% of women can be affected 3. The psychological and social stigma associated with these aspects of the disease arc immense. In addition, even more common than the overt abnormalities is hidden, internal damage to the kidneys and lymphatic system caused by the filariae 4.5. One-third of the people infected with the disease live in India. A primary cause of this increase is the rapid and unplanned growth of cities, which creates numerous breeding sites for the mosquitoes that transmit the disease