Elephantiasis (Filariasis)
什麼是Elephantiasis (Filariasis)
Elephantiasis is the common name for a disease called, filariasis. This is a parasitic disease caused by infection by any one of three different species of parasitic worms: Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori. The disease occurs when the worms grow in the lymphatic vessels of the infected person causing blockage of those vessels so that fluid from tissues cannot drain. Swelling and damage to the lymph glands occurs. In the late stage, extreme and painful swelling of the legs and genitals is known as elephantiasis.
您如何獲得Elephantiasis (Filariasis)？
The worms that cause filariasis are acquired through the bite of an infected mosquito. The worms then grow in the lymphatic vessels of the infected person. Lymphatic vessels function to drain fluid from tissues throughout the body. Inflammation caused by the worms that block the lymphatic vessels, causes painful swelling and damage to the lymph glands over time.
易感性和抵抗力
Humans are universally susceptible to filariasis, and repeated infections may occur in regions where filariasis is common.
有哪些症狀？
Initially, most filariasis infections do not show symptoms at all. However, the adult living worms reside in the lymphatics of the infected individual and can cause progressive lymphatic damage. The blockage in the lymphatic vessels can cause painful swelling in the legs, arms, breasts, and genitals. Secondary bacterial infections in the lymph nodes and channels can also occur and worsen this swelling.
Other symptoms include: high fever, milky white urine, tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (which is a serious condition manifested by nocturnal wheezing and coughing), progressive and chronic lung disease, and recurrent low-grade fever.
預防措施
沒有預防絲蟲病的疫苗或藥物。避免這種疾病的最好方法是避免被蚊子叮咬。攜帶蠕蟲的蚊子通常在黃昏和黎明之間叮咬。為了避免在這種疾病發生的地方被蚊蟲叮咬，請在裝有空調的房間或蚊帳下睡覺。在黃昏和黎明之間，穿長袖和長褲，並在裸露的皮膚上使用驅蚊劑。
治療
Treatment with the anti-parasitic drug Diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) is generally used to treat filariasis and is effective at killing both adult worms and circulating larva. Ivermectin and albendazole are also used in combination to rapidly suppress the larva circulating in the blood, but these drugs may not kill all adult worms.
Anti-parasitic drug treatment is usually repeated annually as low levels of the larva may reappear after treatment with any drug.
When an individual has an infection, supportive measures include elevation of swollen limbs, exercise, and use of topical anti-fungal or antibiotic medications. These medications can also help prevent further infection and swelling.
Surgery may be necessary to reduce the pressure on organs or body parts from the swelling.
驗證
通常在哪裡發生？
絲蟲病感染髮生在亞洲的熱帶和亞熱帶地區（孟加拉國，柬埔寨，印度，印度尼西亞，老撾，馬來西亞，馬爾代夫，菲律賓，斯里蘭卡，泰國，東帝汶和越南），非洲（許多國家），中部和南部美國（巴西，哥斯達黎加，多米尼加共和國，圭亞那，海地，蘇里南以及特立尼達和多巴哥）和太平洋島嶼（美屬薩摩亞，庫克群島，斐濟，法屬波利尼西亞，密克羅尼西亞，紐埃，薩摩亞，湯加，圖瓦盧，巴布亞新幾內亞和瓦努阿圖）。在中東，它僅在也門存在。
