Filariasis Guide

Filariasis is caused by thread-like filarial nematodes, better known as roundworms. These roundworms are very round, hence their name, and can be found in domestic animals and humans. This infectious tropical disease is often transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Once a human is infected by a mosquito, filariasis can be transmitted from human to human.

Roundworms live in the lymph system of a human. A human that has a long-term exposure to filariasis as well as multiple infections can suffer severe damage to the lymph, which will cause serious problems.

Symptoms of filariasis typically occur when adult roundworms are living in the lymph system, which is usually 5-18 months after a mosquito bite. Roundworms can cause damage to tissue caused by the restriction of regular lymph fluid. These damages results in the legs and groin swelling, scarring, and becoming infected.

Filariasis can be detected by blood tests and microscopic examinations. These exams often have to be conducted at night because, in some parts of the world, roundworms are nocturnal. If blood is not drawn at appropriate times, tests may come back negative when the person is truly positive. Of course, there are some roundworms where daytime collection is preferred.

Thick and thin blood smears from the finger prick test are often for identifying roundworms. Blood is drawn from capillaries of the fingertip during strict windows of the time of day.

There are also some roundworms that don’t use blood as they only reside on the skin. Roundworms like these cannot be detected using blood tests, as blood tests are only fit for roundworms that use the blood to travel from the lungs to the skin. For roundworms that live on the skin, the only method of diagnosis is skin snips. Unlike blood tests, skin snips can be conducted at any time.

The procedure for conducting skin snips is rather painful, but very effective. Physicians must clean the skin with antiseptic. The physician then squeezes a fold of the skin between his or her thumb and forefinger. Using a small razor blade, a tiny slice of the skin is removed.

The diagnosing of filariasis can be very difficult or painful. Blood tests must be conducted at the correct time, which may require multiple tries to get it down. Yet skin snips are usually one time only, but very painful.