Elephant Leg Disease (Filariasis atau Elephantiasis)

Elephant foot belonged to an infectious disease caused by Filaria worms that are transmitted after being bitten mosquitoes, the parasite will spread and when it comes to network lympa it will grow and become the disease. The disease is widely available in tropical regions. According to information from WHO, the order states that there are people develop the disease elephantiasis is South Asia (India and Bangladesh), Africa, the Pacific and the Americas. Later many of them occur in Thailand and Indonesia (Southeast Asia). The nature of the disease is chronic and if they do not get treatment can make a permanent defect in the form of enlargement of the legs, arms and genitals of both women and men. Elephant foot disease is not deadly, but for people to be something very shameful.

• Elephant Leg Disease Transmission

Transmitted by mosquitoes which suck the blood of someone who had been infected previously. Infected blood and contain larvae will be transmitted to another person when an infected mosquito bite or suck the blood of the person. Filariasis can be transmitted by 23 species of mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles, Culex, Mansonia, Aedes & Armigeres. Because of this, filariasis can spread very quickly.

• Signs and Symptoms of Disease Elephantiasis

Infected people usually occurs in childhood, and in a long time (many years) began to be felt development. Acute symptoms that may occur include :

• Fever over and over for 3-5 days, fever may be lost when the break and came back after working hard.

• Swollen lymph nodes (without any injury), groin area, armpits (lymphadenitis), which looks red, hot and painful.

• Inflammation of lymph channels that feels hot and pain radiating from the base of the foot or base of the arm towards the end (retrograde lymphangitis).

• filarial abscess due to often suffer from swollen lymph nodes, it can burst and release pus and blood.

• Enlargement of the legs, arms, breasts, testicles that look a little flushed and feels hot (early lymphodema).

• Elephant Leg Disease Diagnostic Examination

The disease is usually detected through microscopic examination of blood, until today it is still considered difficult. Various methods of examination conducted to diagnose the disease elephantiasis. Among them is the system Penjaringan membrane, method of Knott concentration and deposition technique.

Inspection method which is closer towards the diagnosis and recognized by the WHO is by way of examination system "test card", This is extremely sensitive to detect the spread of the parasite (larvae) by taking samples of finger prick blood droplets at a time when the system does not have any time at night.

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  Handling and Elephant Foot Disease Treatment

The purpose of early treatment of patients with elephantiasis disease is killing parasites or larvae which develop in the patient's body, so that the transmission rate can be reduced and reduced. Dietilkarbamasin (diethylcarbamazine (DEC)) is the only drug for filariasis is a powerful and malayi filariasis bancrofti, is makrofilarisidal and mikrofilarisidal. The drug is relatively cheap, safe and no drug resistance. Patients who get this drug therapy may have local and systemic adverse reactions are temporary and easily treated with symptomatic medication. Dietilkarbamasin not be used for khemoprofilaksis. Treatment is given orally after dinner, is absorbed rapidly, reaching peak concentration in blood within 3 hours, and excreted through urine. Dietilkarbamasin not be given to children younger than 2 years, pregnant / lactating, and patients with severe pain or in a weak state.

• Disease Prevention elephantiasis

For people with elephantiasis disease are expected to check the medicine and get the handling of drugs so as not to spread the infection to other people. In addition, the need for education and the introduction of disease to patients and residents surrounding infected.
Eradication of mosquitoes each region is very important to break the transmission chain of this disease. Maintain environmental hygiene is of paramount importance to prevent the development of mosquitoes in the area.