Name the causal agent of disease ‘Filariasis’ write its symptoms and prophylaxis.

Explanation

Filariasis. This disease is characterised by the swelling of the legs, scrotum and of some other parts of the body. The disease is, therefore, commonly known as elephantiasis due to its resemblance to a leg of an elephant. Filariasis is caused by a number of worms. But in India only two types of worms are responsible, and are called Wuchereria banrojti and W.malayi. The infestation is transmitted by culex mosquitoes from one individual to the others.

Symptoms. Filariasis is characterized by -fever, proliferation of endothelial cells and deposition of metabolites on the walls of lymph vessels. This causes enormous swelling of certain body parts (e.g., of legs, scrotal sacs, breasts, etc.), due to blockage of lymph vessels. When blockage of lymph vessels of lower limbs occurs then swelling occurs in legs, these look like legs of elephants, so is also called elephantiasis. It may also cause deformities of the genital organs.
Prophylaxis. As in malaria.
Therapy. Most commonly used antihelminth drugs are hetrazan and diethyl carbamazine.