Lymphedema resulting from filariasis successfully treated by surgery

Authors

  • Karlina Novianti Kasim Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar
  • Siswanto Wahab Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar
  • Khairuddin Djawad Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar
  • Nurelly N. Waspodo Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar
  • Mulawardi Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2020.1059

Keywords:

filariasis, lymphedema, surgical therapy

Abstract

Filariasis is an infectious disease caused by a filarial worm infection transmitted by mosquito bites. The disease can result in reduced work productivity, disability and social stigma. This disease transmission process begins when a mosquito bite and suck the blood containing the microfilaria. Filarial infections have been grouped into three categories based on their location diseases of the disease: (1) lymphatics, (2) skin, and (3) body cavities. Morbidity is almost entirely due to the species that cause lymphatic diseases, and skin diseases to a lesser degree. A 28-year-old male came with a chief complaint of swollen right leg since four years ago which worsened in the last three months. Upon physical examination, edema, fibrosis, and hyper-pigmented plaques were present on the right lower extremity. The blood microfilariae examination was positive for Wuchereria bancrofti. The lymphedema did not resolve despite of antifilarial treatment and surgery was eventually performed to resect the fibrous tissue and subcutaneous edema. The patient responded well to the treatment with a significant reduction in the edema. No complication was present until two years after surgery.

Download data is not yet available.

References

MC Maryani. Herti W, Sri P. Analisa kasus penyakit filariasis di provinsi Nangroe Aceh Darussalam dengan pendekatan metode Zero Inflated Poisson (ZIP) regresion. Buletin Penelitian Sistem Kesehatan Jan 2014;17:1.

Lau CL, Won KY, et al. Seroprevalence and spatial epidemiology of lymphatic filariasis in American Samoa after succesful mass drug administration. Negl Trop Dis. Nov 2014;8(11):e3297. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003297

Chesnais CB, Missamou F, Pion S, Bopda J, et al. Short report: semi-quantitative scoring of an immunochromatographic test for circulating filarial antigen. Am J Trop Med. 2013;89:916-918.

Filariasis. In: Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL, Rapini RP, editors. Dermatology. 2nd ed. Mosby: 2008. p.1285-1286.

Castanedo-Tardan MP. Filariasis infection. In: Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, Gilchrest BA, Paller AS, Leffell DJ, Wolff K, editors. Fitzpatrick’s dermatology in general medicine. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. p. 3642-3645.

Vega-Lopez F, Hay RJ. Parasitic Worms and Protozoa. In: Burns T, Breathnach SM, Cox N, Griffiths C, editor. Rook’s Textbook of Dermatology. 8th ed. London: Blackwell Science; 2010. p. 37.1-37.10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444317633.ch37

James WD, Elston DM. Filariasis. In: Andrews disease of the skin: clinical dermatology. 11th ed. London: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. p.449-450.

Dhameja N, Bhatia BD. Images in clinical tropical medicine: filariasis presenting as massive diffuse cervical swelling in child. Am J Trop Med 2014;5.

Chesnais CB, Missamou F, Pion S, Bopda J, et al. Short report: semi-quantitative scoring of an immunochromatographic test for circulating filarial antigen. Am J Trop Med. 2013;89:916-918. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0245

Babayan SA, Allen J, Taylor D. Future prospects and challenges of vaccines against filariasis. Parasite Immunol. 2012;34(5):243-253. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3024.2011.01350.x

Jong WD, Sjamsuhidajat R. Buku ajar ilmu bedah. 2nd ed. 2012. p. 496-497.

Dhameja N, Bhatia BD. Images in clinical tropical medicine: filariasis presenting as massive diffuse cervical swelling in child. Am J Trop Med 2014;5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0034

Pereira GJM, Azoubel LMO, Godoy MFG. Surgical treatment of elephantiasis of the feet in congenital lymphedema to facilitate the use of a compression mechanism. Int J Gen Med. 2010;3:115-118.

Desai C, Gouri A, Bhandari K, al. e. Awareness on Lymphatic Filariasis: An Initiative for Elimination. JPSBR: volume 4,Issue 6:2014;347-350

Krentel A, Fischer P, Weil G. A review of factors that influence individual compliance with mass drug administration for elimination of lymphatic filariasis. Negl Trop Dis 2013;7:11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002447

Downloads

Published

05-11-2020

How to Cite

Kasim, K. N., Wahab, S., Djawad, K., Waspodo, N. N., & Mulawardi. (2020). Lymphedema resulting from filariasis successfully treated by surgery. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2020.1059

Issue

Section

Case Reports