Disease Information for Filariasis: Definition

Infections with nematodes of the superfamily FILARIOIDEA; The presence of living worms in the body is mainly asymptomatic but the death of adult worms leads to granulomatous inflammation and permanent fibrosis; -----------------------------------Acanthocheilonemiasis;

Acanthocheilonemiasis perstans; Dipetalonema perstans;

Dipetalonemiasis; Mansonella perstans;

Acanthocheilonemiasis is a rare tropical infectious disease caused by a parasite known as Acanthocheilonema perstans, which belongs to a group of parasitic diseases known as filarial diseases; these are nematodes; This parasite is found, for the most part, in Africa; Symptoms of infection may include red, itchy skin (pruritis), abdominal and chest pain, muscular pain (myalgia), and areas of localized swelling (edema); In addition, the liver and spleen may become abnormally enlarged; Laboratory testing may also reveal eosinophilia; The parasite is transmitted through the bite of small flies ----------[NORD 2005]----------------Filariasis, Lymphatic; Lymphatic filariasis is caused primarily by adult worms (filariae) that live in the lymphatic vessels; The female worms release microfilariae that circulate in the peripheral blood and are ingested by mosquitoes; thus, infected mosquitoes transmit the infection from person to person; The two major species of filariae that cause lymphatic disease in humans are Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi; Lymphatic filariasis affects an estimated 120 million persons in tropical areas of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa, Egypt, southern Asia, the western Pacific islands, the northeastern coast of Brazil, Guyana, and the Caribbean island of Hispaniola; Short-term travelers to endemic areas are at low risk for this infection; Travelers who visit endemic areas for extended periods of time and who are intensively exposed to infected mosquitoes can become infected; lymphedema of lower extremities and scrotum can follow to elephantiasis complication

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