Filariasis: What is it and What is Being Done?

Filariasis is an infectious disease that is caused by a thread-like parasitic roundworm.  The parasite is transmitted to humans through mosquitoes when they bite (Figure 1). There are two types of parasitic worms that cause filariasis– Wucheria bancrofti and Brugia malayi. Infected people may or may not experience symptoms early on. Classic symptoms that usually arise are fever, chills, body aches, and skin lesions. Chronic lymph node swelling may also occur and areas of the body may begin to accumulate alarming amounts of fluid (NORD, 2016).

Filariasis is prevalent in rural, tropical countries, affecting mainly the poorer sector of the community (figure 2). The disease is also more common amongst the young working population. Over 905 million people are at risk of contracting the disease and 90 million are infected. The countries that see the highest rate of Filariasis are China, India, and Indonesia (Partono, 1987).

To help control the prevalence of Filariasis, scientists are finding that global mapping can be a major advantage. By mapping out the disease, you can see geographically which areas are affected and analyze the data based on distribution to see similarities between endemic countries, and thereby understand how to treat better. The issue is that with diseases like Filariasis, many people do not get properly diagnosed, and therefore many cases go undocumented (Michael and Bundy, 1997).

To control this disease, two drugs can be used together in a single dose to combat the parasite. These drugs are ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or albendazole. They help to reduce microfilariae in the bloodstream, thereby halting the infection and reducing the symptoms. Even a single dose of one of the medications can reduce microfilariae by 90% (Ottesen et al., 1997). Filariasis is a public health issue and is being treated as such with an elimination plan in place. By mapping out the areas where Filariasis is common, drugs can be mass distributed along with vector control, like bednets. By doing intense intervention, not only could Filariasis be reduced, but other diseases such as dengue fever or malaria could also be reduced since communities will also be practicing vector control (Molyneux, 2003).

Figure 1: CDC diagram of the life cycle of Filariasis

Figure 2: Global map of Filariasis:

Works Cited:

Filariasis. (2016, January). National Organization for Rare Disorders.

Molyneux, D. (2003, September 9). Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis) Elimination: A public health success and development opportunity. Filaria Journal, 2(13).

Partono, F. (1987). The spectrum of disease in lymphatic filariasis. Filariasis, 15-31.

Michael, E., & Bundy, D. (1997, December). Global mapping of lymphatic filariasis. Parasitology Today, 13(12), 472-476.

Ottesen, E., Duke, B., Karam, M., & Behbehani, K. (1997). Strategies and tools for the control/elimination of lymphatic filariasis. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 75(6), 491-503.