Signs and Symptoms of Elephantiasis

Signs and Symptoms of elephantiasis

Elephantiasis (filariasis)

Elephantiasis (filariasis) is a class of infectious diseases caused by filarial worms are transmitted by various species of mosquitoes. After being bitten mosquitoes, parasites (larvae) will spread and when it comes to network lympa system then develops into the disease.

This disease is chronic (chronic) and if not treated, can cause permanent disability in the form of enlargement of the legs, arms and genitals of both women and men. Disease elephantiasis is not a deadly disease, however, for patients may be something that feels shameful even can interfere with daily activities.

Elephantiasis disease commonly found in many tropical regions. According to information from WHO, the order states that there are people develop the disease elephantiasis is South Asia (India and Bangladesh), Africa, the Pacific and the Americas. Later many of them occur in Thailand and Indonesia (Southeast Asia).
# Elephant Foot Disease Transmission

The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes which suck the blood of someone who had contracted earlier. Infected blood and contain larvae and would be transmitted to others when an infected mosquito bite or suck the blood of the person.

Unlike malaria and dengue fever, filariasis can be transmitted by 23 species of mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles, Culex, Mansonia, Aedes & Armigeres. Because of this, filariasis can spread very quickly.

# Signs and Symptoms of elephantiasis

A person infected with the disease elephantiasis usually occurs in childhood, where in a long time (many years) began to be felt development.

The acute symptoms that may occur include:

* Fever over and over again for 3-5 days, fever may be lost when a break and came back after working hard

* Swollen lymph nodes (no injuries) groin area, armpits (lymphadenitis), which looks red, hot and sore

* Inflammation of the lymph channels that feels hot and pain radiating from the base of the foot or base of the arm towards the end (retrograde lymphangitis)

* Filarial abscess due to frequent suffering from swollen lymph nodes, may rupture and ooze pus and blood

* Enlargement of the legs, arms, breasts, testicles that look a little flushed and hot (early lymphodema)


While the chronic symptoms of the disease elephantiasis is a persistent enlargement (elephantiasis) in the legs, arms, breasts, testicles (elephantiasis skroti).

# Elephant Foot Disease Diagnostic Examination

Elephant foot disease is generally detected through microscopic examination of blood, until today it is still considered difficult because of microfilaria just show up and present themselves in the blood at night for several hours (nocturnal periodicity).

In addition, various methods, the examination is also done to diagnose the disease elephantiasis. Among them is the system known as crawl membrane, method of Knott concentration and deposition technique.

Inspection method that is closer towards the diagnosis and recognized by the WHO is the road system check "test card", It is very simple and sensitive to detect the spread of parasites (larvae). Namely by taking a finger prick sample of blood droplets at a time when the system at any time, not necessarily at night.
 
# Handling and Treatment of elephantiasis

The main goal in early treatment of the disease elephantiasis is killing parasites or larvae which develop in the patient's body, so the rate of transmission can be suppressed and reduced.

Dietilkarbamasin {diethylcarbamazine (DEC)} is the only drug for filariasis powerful and malayi filariasis bancrofti, is makrofilarisidal and mikrofilarisidal. The drug is relatively inexpensive, safe and no drug resistance. Patients who received this drug therapy may provide local and systemic adverse reactions are temporary and easily managed with symptomatic medication.

Dietilkarbamasin can not be used for khemoprofilaksis. Treatment is given orally after dinner, rapidly absorbed, reaching peak concentrations in the blood within 3 hours, and excreted through urine. Dietilkarbamasin diberikanpada no children younger than 2 years, pregnant / lactating, and patients with severe illness or
in a weakened state.

However, in cases of elephantiasis are quite severe (already enlarged) because it is not detected early, in addition to delivery of drugs would require further measures such as surgery.

# Elephant Foot Disease Prevention

For patients with disease awareness elephants are expected to check their medicine and get treatment so that drugs not spread infection to other people. For that there is need for education and the introduction of diseases to patients and residents of surrounding areas.

Eradication of mosquitoes each region is very important to break the transmission chain of this disease. Keeping the environment clean is important to prevent mosquito development in the region are.

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