Filariasis history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kalsang Dolma, M.B.B.S.[2] Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [3]

Overview

Filariasis can have varied clinical presentations depending on their cause. Symptoms include fever, headache, pruritus, pulmonary symptoms, scrotal and leg swelling.

History and Symptoms

History of travelling should be asked to the patients to know if they were in endemic areas of filariasis before or not.
Filariasis symptoms depends on the type of the roundworm causing the disease. In this table a collection of the symptoms occur by each worm.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Diseases	Most common symptoms	Less common symptoms
Lymphatic filariasis	Lymphatic filariasis may be asymptomatic or symptomatic. Symptoms include: Elephantiasis (frequently in the lower extremities) Scrotal swelling Nocturnal cough Fever Malaise Headache Chills	Abscess formation at the site of lymph nodes affected. Pain in the genital area.
Onchocerciasis (Onchocerca volvulus)	Subcutaneous lumps Pruritis Lymphadenitis	Impaired visual acuity Blindness (known as river blindness disease).
Loiasis (Loa Loa)	Subcutaneous swellings Urticaria Pain	Breast calcification Arthralgia
Mansonella perstans, Mansonella streptocerca infections and Mansonella ozzardi	Usually asymptomatic	If symptomatic, it may include: Abdominal pain Pruritis Lymphangitis Papular eruptions Pigmentation changes Arthralgia

References

Overview