Lymphatic filariasis

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Lymphatic filariasis

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a severe form of filariasis (see this term) caused by the parasitic worms Wuchereria bancrofti Brugia malayi and Brugia timori and the most common cause of acquired lymphedema worldwide. LF is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions. The vast majority of infected patients are asymptomatic but it can also cause a variety of clinical manifestations including limb lymphedema genital anomalies (hydrocele chylocele) elephantiasis in later stages of the disease (frequently in the lower extremities) and tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (nocturnal paroxysmal cough and wheezing weight loss low-grade fever adenopathy and pronounced blood eosinophilia). Renal involvement (hematuria proteinuria nephritic syndrome glomerulonephritis) and mono-arthritis of the knee or ankle joint have also been reported.

Data from Orphanet are used to provide information on a disease's name, synonym(s), and overview.

Reference: Access aggregated data from Orphanet at Orphadata.

Orphadata: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999. Available on http://www.orphadata.org. Data version March 2024

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Clinical Trials

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