For these effects to happen, however, you have to be bitten by infected mosquitoes repeatedly, over the span of several months. There are two primary ways lymphatic filariasis is typically diagnosed: blood smears or assays. The worms can't be seen by the naked eye, but you can catch a glimpse of them under a microscope. This diagnostic method uses a small amount of blood taken by a finger prick, for example smeared onto a slide, which is then looked at through a microscope. The worms are only active at night, so the sample should be taken then.
This is the cheapest and more practical way to test for the parasite. Alternatively, serologic testing can also be used for diagnosis. When you're infected with a parasite, the human body often makes antibodies to try to fight it off. These antibodies can be detected using routine assays done on blood samples. This method, however, tends to be used primarily by public health officials attempting to monitor and map the transmission of the parasite in a given region.
Because many people don't present symptoms until years after they're infected, tests might come back negative even if their condition is the result of the parasite.
Lymphatic filariasis can be treated and controlled in a number of ways, including medications, preventive chemotherapy programs, and vector control. Several medications can be taken to kill the parasite's microfilariae and some though likely not all adult worms.
Side effects of the drugs can sometimes be worse if an individual has co-infections with other diseases, so different regions are recommended to receive different treatment combinations.
Some research also indicates that taking milligrams a day of doxycycline can help kill adult worms, though it is not yet a first-line treatment option recommended by the World Health Organization. To prevent the spread of lymphatic filariasis, a combination of medications are often given routinely and proactively to everyone in a given area—regardless of whether they have been diagnosed with the condition.
While this won't cure everyone who has lymphatic filariasis or its various complications, it can help prevent the spread of the parasite because it effectively eliminates the microfilariae that can be carried by mosquitoes and passed from person to person.
Mosquitoes are integral to the transmission of lymphatic filariasis, and other harmful pathogens like malaria , West Nile virus , and dengue fever , so reducing their populations and warding against bites is an important prevention strategy.
While this likely won't eliminate lymphatic filariasis entirely, it can help reduce the chances someone becomes infected with the parasite. Cancer centers often offer therapy for lymphedema that involves specialized wraps and massages. Lymphatic filariasis is extremely rare in North America and Europe.
In order to become infected with the parasite, you have to be bitten by infected mosquitoes repeatedly and over a long period of time. If you're just making short-term trips to areas where lymphatic filariasis is common, there's little reason to be concerned about getting sick from the parasite.
Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Centers for Disease Control. Updated March 5, Parasites - lymphatic filariasis frequently asked questions. Updated March 16, People living in affected tropical or subtropical areas are most at risk of infection.
However, short-term visitors to these regions have a very low risk of getting elephantiasis or related conditions, according to the CDC. People with symptoms of the condition, including swelling and skin thickening, should see their doctor immediately.
Elephantiasis symptoms can be managed through medications, lifestyle changes, and emotional support. Mosquito repellents are an essential protection against mosquito bites.
Learn how to choose the most effective repellent, and how they may prevent…. Arboviruses are a group of viruses that are transmitted by insects to humans. Examples include yellow fever, West Nile virus, and Japanese…. Mosquitos are flying insects, some which are known to carry harmful diseases. However, the bites of many mosquitos simply cause irritation. In this article we look at why mosquito bites itch, evidence-backed ways to reduce itching and swelling, and discuss when to see a doctor.
An outbreak of the Zika virus in Brazil alerted the world to the dangers of this mosquito-borne disease when there was a fold increase in newborns…. Can you treat elephantiasis? Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M. Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatments Complications Prevention Takeaway Elephantiasis is a tropical disease caused by parasitic worms that are spread through mosquito bites. Elephantiasis causes swelling of the scrotum, legs, or breasts.
Elephantiasis is considered a neglected tropical disease NTD. The most common symptom of elephantiasis is swelling of body parts. The swelling tends to happen in the:. The legs are the most commonly affected area. The swelling and enlargement of body parts can lead to pain and mobility issues. Elephantiasis affects the immune system.
People with this condition are also at increased risk for a secondary infection. Elephantiasis is caused by parasitic worms that are spread by mosquitoes. There are three types of worms involved:. The worms affect the lymphatic system in the body. The lymphatic system is responsible for removing waste and toxins. This leads to a backup of lymphatic fluid, which causes swelling. Elephantiasis can affect people at any age.
It appears in both women and men. This is not always feasible because in most parts of the world, microfilariae are nocturnally periodic, which means that they only circulate in the blood at night. For this reason, the blood collection has to be done at night to coincide with the appearance of the microfilariae in the blood.
Serologic techniques provide an alternative to microscopic detection of microfilariae for the diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis. Because lymphedema may develop many years after infection, lab tests are often negative with these patients. Avoiding mosquito bites is the best form of prevention. The mosquitoes that carry the microscopic worms usually bite between the hours of dusk and dawn.
If you live in or travel to an area with lymphatic filariasis:. People infected with adult worms can take a yearly dose of medicine, called diethylcarbamazine DEC , that kills the microscopic worms circulating in the blood.
While this drug does not kill all of the adult worms, it does prevent infected people from giving the disease to someone else. People with lymphedema and elephantiasis are not likely to benefit from DEC treatment because most people with lymphedema are not actively infected with the filarial parasite.
People with lymphedema and hydrocele can benefit from lymphedema management, and in the case of hydrocele surgical repair. Even after the adult worms die, lymphedema can develop.
You can ask your physician for a referral to see a lymphedema therapist for specialized care. Prevent the lymphedema from getting worse by following several basic principles:. Contact Us. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
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