Filariasis therapy

E. TPE is caused by microfilariae in the lungs and hyperimmune responsiveness to bancroftian or malayan filariasis. Paroxysmal respiratory symptoms may fluctuate in severity. Eosinophilia, almost always present, is usually very high, and the absence of microfilariae in the blood does not rule out TPE. A presumptive clinical diagnosis can be made by response to therapy without a lung biopsy. Diethylcarbamazine for 14 days is an effective therapy that can be repeated if symptoms persist. The role of ivermectin in TPE has not been established. 

Filariasis. In its microform, Wuchereria ban-crofti is transmitted by mosquitoes the adult parasites live in the lymph system and cause inflammations and blockage of lymph drainage leading to elephantiasis in extreme cases (B). Therapy diethylcarbamazepine for several weeks adverse reactions are chiefly due to products from disintegrating worms. 

The efficacy of ivermectin for human onchocerciasis was established in the 1980s and is summarized in this chapter briefly. Clinical study of ivermectin in human strongyloidiasis has not yet been completed. Here we describe the efficacy of ivermectin for human strongyloidiasis as observed in our institution during the past decade. Furthermore, we would like to describe the combination therapy with ivermectin and albendazole for bancroftian filariasis and also the efficacy of ivermectin in the treatment of human scabies. 

DIETHYLCARBAMAZINE Diethylcarbamazine is a first-hne agent for control and treatment of lymphatic filariasis and for therapy of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia caused by W. bancrofti and Brugia malayi. Although partially effective against onchocerciasis and loiasis, it can cause serious reactions to affected microfilariae. For this reason, ivermectin has replaced diethylcarbamazine for onchocerciasis. Despite its toxicity diethylcarbamazine remains the best drug available to treat loiasis. 

Tissue nematodes responsive to drug therapy include ancyclostoma species, which cause cutaneous larva migrans, seen primarily in the southern USA. Species of dracunculus, onchocerca, toxo-cara, and Wuchereria bancrufti (the cause of filariasis) are all responsive to drug treatment. The number of persons worldwide estimated to be infected by tissue nematodes exceeds 0.5 billion. 

---