Lymphatic Filariasis By Morgan McBride
Lymphatic Filariasis is one of the oldest known diseases 2000 BC Pharaoh Mentuhotep II was depicted as having swollen limbs, which suggest elephantiasis Discovery of symptoms in 1588 on an exploration of Goa
“In 1997, the World Health Assembly called upon Member States to develop national plans that would lead to the elimination of LF. In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF), which has the goal of eliminating lymphatic filariasis as a public-health problem by the year 2020.” -World Health Organization
The story of Hamisu Isa, age 35, from Nigeria Hamisu is 35 and has suffered for LF’s severest conditions for years. His journey with this this disease is much like a lot of those living in endemic areas. But first, lets learn about what exactly this disease is and how it affects people.
Lymphatic Filariasis is an Infection of the lymph nodes caused by parasitic nematode worms https://www.neb.com/tools-and-resources/feature-articles/combating-neglected-diseases-a-genomic-approach-to-identify-potential-drug-targets
3 types of filarial nematodes cause LF Wuchereria bancrofti* Brugia malayi Brugia timoria Wuchereria is the most common. Responsible for 90% of the cases http://www.nematodes.org/research/nematodes/fgn/
The parasite is transmitted through a mosquito vector Africa: Anopheles In the Americas: Culex quinquefasciatus In the Pacific and in Asia: Mansonia and Aedes species http://www.2minutemedicine.com
Life cycle: vectorhumanvector
Life cycle: vectorhumanvector
LF affects the lymph system The lymph system is responsible for maintaining the body’s fluid balance Fights infections The parasitic worms only live in the body’s lymphatic system. [1] The lymphatic system is a network of tubes throughout the body that is responsible for draining fluids out of the tissues. The lymphatic system also helps protect the body from infection and disease. Once in the lymphatic system, the parasites can live for 5-7 years, reproducing and increasing the severity of the disease. http://www.mayoclinic.org
Due to the slow progress of the disease, most people are in the asymptomatic stage of symptoms. 3 Types of symptoms Asymptomatic Acute Chroninc The disease is characterized by the chronic conditions
Chronic Symptoms include, lymphedema elephantiasis, paralysis, and hydrocele jama.jamanetwork.com
The most accurate way to diagnose is the Circulating filarial antigen detection method Observation lymphedema of limbs or disease of male genitalia in an individual more than 15 years of age High frequency ultrasound coupled with Doppler techniques Blood smear of nocturnal blood Assays for circulating antigens of W. bancrofti
LF can only be managed with treatments Diethylacarbamazine (DEC) Ivermectine Albendazole http://es.made-in-china.com/co_helipharma/product_Ivermectin-1-_heeguigng.html There is no cure for the disease, but symptoms can be managed with treatment. These drugs reduce the amount of microfilarea in the blood, which in turn reduces the chance of the infected blood being spread by mosquitos. However, if a patient developed elephantiasis, lymphedema, or hydrocele the only treatment is management http://mumbai.all.biz/diethylcarbamazine-g58199 http://yourmedicinecorner.blogspot.com/2012/06/albendazole-for-filariasis-facts.html
Combination of Albendazole with DEC or Ivermectine is recommended for most effective treatment
The drugs cannot reverse the affects of chronic conditions, so they must be managed http://www.filariasis.org/management.html
Prevention by lowering the chance of being bitten is key Bed nets Mosquito repellents Note it takes multiple bites to become fully infected with LF science.nationalgeographic.com
Let’s go back to Hamisu
LF is a “Neglected Tropical Disease” of the Developing World. http://www.cehjournal.org
Approximately 120 million people in 81 countries are infected with Lymphatic Filariasis 1/3 are in India 1/3 are in Africa 1/3 in South Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas Lymphatic Filariasis was eradicated in the US in the 1920s
LF is the leading cause of permanent and long-term disability LF is the leading cause of permanent and long-term disability. More than 30% of the 120 million people are severely disabled.
Increased disability results in economic concerns in endemic countries
Is there hope for those at risk? And those with the disease?
World Health Organization’s GPELF program has 2 goals Stop transmission Alleviate suffering and disability
Stop transmission through Mass Drug Administration (MDA)
Data from 2010 to show progress made within GPELF
Mass Drug Administration (MDA) is most effective with the use of several rounds of drugs
Between 2000-2009 2.8 billion doses of medicine were delivered to 845 million people.
There is hope for eradicating LF from the World
Works Cited "Diagnosis." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 01 Apr. 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 June 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. "Lymphatic Filariasis." - MicrobeWiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. "Lymphatic Filariasis – Stories From the Field: Hamisu Isa." Lymphatic Filariasis – Stories From the Field: Hamisu Isa. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. "Lymphatic Filariasis." Global Network |. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. "Lymphatic Filariasis." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. Ottesen, Eric A., et al. "The global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: health impact after 8 years." PLoS neglected tropical diseases 2.10 (2008): e317 Taylor, Mark J., Achim Hoerauf, and Moses Bockarie. "Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis." The Lancet 376.9747 (2010): 1175-1185. "USAID's NTD Program." USAID's Neglected Tropical Disease Program: Target Diseases, Lymphatic Filariasis. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. "Wuchereria Bancrofti - Lymphatic Filariasis - Elephantiasis." Wuchereria Bancrofti - Lymphatic Filariasis - Elephantiasis. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.