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  2. Also known as: lymphatic filariasis (LF)
    A parasitic disease caused by roundworms and their larvae. This causes fever, headache and skin lesions.
    How common is condition?
    Rare (Fewer than 200,000 cases per year in US)
    Is condition treatable?
    Treatable by a medical professional
    Does diagnosis require lab test or imaging?
    Requires lab test or imaging
    Time taken for recovery
    Can last several months
    How is condition transmitted?
    Transmitted through mosquito bites
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    Causes

    Verified Expert

    • Caused by parasites called roundworms such as Wuchereria bancrofti or Brugia malayi. Adult worms and larvae can both cause symptoms
    • It is transmitted by female mosquitoes of the genera Culex, Anopheles, Aedes, and Mansoni
    • A person is infected when the parasitic larvae are deposited in the skin by a mosquito and it passes through the blood vessel
    • The larvae penetrates the skin through the bite wound

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    Symptoms

    Verified Expert
    Contact your provider if experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms.

    The symptoms of filariasis depend on the type of parasitic worm that has infected an individual. There may be no symptoms. If shown, they include:

    • Headache
    • Chills
    • Fever
    • Body aches
    • Swollen lymph nodes
    • Edema in the arms or legs
    • Inflammation of the genitalia
    • Larvae in the eye can be seen moving
    • Skin rashes
    • Lymphatic damage over a prolonged period causes chronic lymphedema or elephantiasis

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    Diagnosis

    Verified Expert
    One or more of these tests may be recommended by your medical provider.
    Diagnosis involves laboratory testing.

    Common tests & procedures

    Blood smear: To identify the parasite.Blood sample collected at night is smeared on a glass slide, and stained for observation under microscope.

    Blood test: Assays are performed to detect antibodies called IgG4 in the blood.

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  1. Lymphatic filariasis Lymphatic filariasis is a human disease caused by parasitic worms known as filarial worms. Usually acquired in childhood, it is a leading cause of permanent disability worldwide.
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphatic_filariasis
    Elephantiasis tropica (known as lymphatic filariasis), caused by a number of parasitic worms, particularly Wuchereria bancrofti. More than 120 million people, mostly in Africa and Southeast Asia, are affected.
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephantiasis
  2. Filariasis - Wikipedia

  3. Lymphatic filariasis - World Health Organization (WHO)

  4. About Lymphatic Filariasis | Filarial Worms | CDC

    May 13, 2024 · Lymphatic filariasis, sometimes called LF, is a disease caused by an infection with thread-like parasitic worms. A parasite is an organism (a living thing) that lives on or inside another organism. It can cause severe …

  5. Lymphatic filariasis (Elephantiasis) - World Health …

    Oct 4, 2024 · Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a painful and profoundly disfiguring disease. It is caused by infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filariodidea that are …

  6. How to Fight Lymphatic Filariasis
    Lymphatic filariasis is a disease caused by tiny worms that live in the lymph system, which helps fight infections and balance fluids in the body.
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  7. Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis) - Cleveland Clinic

  8. What Causes Lymphatic Filariasis | Filarial Worms | CDC

    Lymphatic filariasis is caused by parasitic worms that are too small to be seen without a microscope. There are three species of the parasite that can cause this illness. People get lymphatic filariasis when bitten by an infectious mosquito …

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    • wikipedia

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  9. Symptoms of Lymphatic Filariasis | Filarial Worms | CDC

    May 13, 2024 · Most people with lymphatic filariasis never show symptoms. If you do show symptoms, they may not appear for several years. These late-appearing symptoms can include chronic, severe swelling of the legs, arms, …

    Missing:

    • wikipedia

    Must include:

  10. Lymphatic filariasis - World Health Organization (WHO)

    Jan 30, 2020 · Lymphatic filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by three species of microscopic, thread-like worms. The adult worms only live in the human lymph system. The lymph system maintains the body's fluid balance and fights …

  11. Understanding Lymphatic Filariasis: Causes, Symptoms, and …