LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS IN TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA

Morrone A., Terranova M., Padovese V.

21° WORLD CONGRESS OF DERMATOLOGY
Buenos Aires, 30 September – 5 October 2007

Background
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) represents a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It causes permanent disability worldwide. It affects about 120 million people in more than 80 countries and is responsible for debilitating genital diseases in about 25 million people and lymphedema and elephantiasis in an additional 15 million persons in tropics and subtropics.. A Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) started in 26 countries is providing mass administration of antielmintic drugs.
Patients and Methods
We report our experience of 23 patients observed in the Italian Dermatological Centre (IDC) in Mekelle, capital of Tigray, the northern region of Ethiopia, between January 2005 and January 2007. Al patients presented acute or chronic episodes of lymphadenitis of the groin or irreversible elephantiasis of the lower limbs or scrotum. Bloods film evidenced the presence of microfilaremia.
Results
Twenty-three diagnosis of LF were done and treatment with diethylcar¬bamazine PO was started.
Conclusions
Ethiopia is considered an endemic area for LF by the WHO. The GPELF is not yet active in this country. Frequency of LF cases and consequent permanent disability seen in IDC recommend to include Ethiopia inside the GPELF to improve the health of poor people and enhance health systems.
References
1. Addiss DG, Brady MA.,Morbidity management in the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis: A review of the scientific literature, Filaria J. 2007 Feb 15;6(1):2 [Epub ahead of print]
2. Adinarayanan S, Critchley J, Das P, Gelband H.,Diethylcarbamazine (DEC)-medicated salt for community-based control of lymphatic filariasis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jan 24;(1)
3. Molyneux D. Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) elimination: a public health success and development opportunity.
Filaria J 2003; 2: 13