What are the symptoms of filariasis?

Parasites are common organisms in our daily lives. They can cause great harm to people's bodies. Moreover, parasites are widely present in all kinds of poultry and are difficult to completely eliminate. For example, filarial worms are a relatively common parasite that can be easily found in raw meat. Infection with filarial worms can have a significant impact on the body. Let’s take a look at the symptoms of filariasis.

Filariasis refers to a parasitic disease caused by filarial worms parasitizing in lymphatic tissue, subcutaneous tissue or serous cavity. There are only Bancrofti (Bancrofti) and Brugia malayi (Brugia malayi) in our country. The disease is spread by blood-sucking insects. The symptoms and signs of filariasis vary depending on where the filariasis is parasitic. The main manifestations in the early stage are lymphangitis and lymphadenitis, while in the late stage, a series of symptoms and signs caused by lymphatic vessel obstruction appear.

1. Acute filariasis

(1) Lymphangitis, lymphadenitis, erysipelas-like dermatitis and other lymphangitis are characterized by retrograde disease. During an attack, a red line can be seen developing centrifugally under the skin, commonly known as "flowing fire" or "red line". It can occur in both the upper and lower limbs, but is more common in the lower limbs. When the inflammation spreads to the superficial tiny lymphatic vessels of the skin, the local skin appears diffusely red and swollen, the surface is shiny, and there is tenderness and burning sensation, which is erysipelas dermatitis. The lesions are mostly found in the middle and lower part of the calf.

(2) Spermitis, epididymitis or testitis In the case of Bancroftian filariasis, if the adult worms parasitize in the lymphatic vessels within the scrotum, filariasis may cause spermatic corditis, epididymitis or testitis.

(3) Filariasis fever is characterized by periodic chills and high fever that lasts for 2 days to 1 week and then subsides. Some patients only have a low fever but no chills, and local symptoms gradually appear after repeated attacks.

2. Chronic filariasis

Chronic obstructive lesions have different clinical manifestations due to different obstruction sites, including lymphedema and elephantiasis, testicular hydrocele, chyluria, etc.

In addition to the above lesions, filarial nodules in the female breast are not uncommon in endemic areas. In addition, filarial worms can occasionally cause ocular filariasis, filarial granulomas in the spleen, chest, back, neck, arms, etc., filarial pericarditis, chylous pleural effusion, chylous hematuria, and intramedullary microfilariasis.

3. Hidden filariasis

Clinical manifestations include nocturnal asthma or cough, accompanied by fatigue and low fever.