Filariasis is caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. After a bite, the larvae are inoculated into the blood of human being, and these larvae develop into an adult worm. The adult worm is 2 -50cm long. These adult worms after mating produce millions of microfilariae, and it migrate to blood or skin.
The microfilariae survive 2-3 years, and adult worms survive for about 10-15 years.
The filarial worms’ wuchereria bancrofti and brugia malayi causes hydrocele and elephantiasis. Culex mosquitos spread the worms. The adult worm lives in lymphatics and female produce microfilariae, which come to the peripheral blood during the night.
The factors causing the lymphatic filariasis are the living adult worm, and inflammatory response is caused by the death of the adult worm, microfilariae and the secondary infections. Death of adult worms results in acute filarial lymphangitis. And even after the death of the worms' obstruction of lymphatic continues. Microfilariae are one of the major causes of pulmonary eosinophilia.
Clinical feature
High-grade fever, pain and tenderness and redness along the course of inflamed lymphatic vessels. It lasts for a few days, but may recur at frequent intervals. Inflammations of the testes and spermatic cord are common. The acute symptoms may subside within days but recur at frequent intervals. And finally the swelling become permanent. And the swelling becomes hard and will not pit on pressure, and the skin become rough and corrugated and form into the typical elephantiasis or elephant leg.
Investigations.
Blood examination-
There is eosinophilia.
Presence of microfilariae in blood examination at night.
Ultra sound of the scrotum may sometimes show the movement of the adult worms.
Treatment
Diethylcarbamazine is the treatment in allopathy. The dying microfilariae may cause allergic symptoms like fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and pain joints.
Homeopathic treatment
In early stages homeopathic medicines are highly effecting in controlling the acute episodes. The acute symptoms are managed according to symptoms, and the recurrence is prevented by miasmatic remedy. According to homeopathic philosophy, the worm infestation belongs to psoric miasm. The acute episodes are followed by antipsoric remedies. But when the symptoms are advanced like the elephantiasis and large hydrocele, only temporary relief is possible. And in severe case, the hydrocele should get operated.
And homeopathic can also safely be given along with allopathic medicines.
