Philliarisis

To diagnose lymphatic filariasis, healthcare providers need to examine a blood sample. They may use:

Microscopic testing: Providers may view your blood sample under a microscope. The microscope allows them to see if your blood has any filarial worms. Filarial worms are nocturnally periodic, meaning they only move in your blood at nighttime. Because of this, you may need to get your blood drawn at night.

Antibody testing: Providers may measure your blood sample for antibodies. Antibodies are organisms that your body creates in response to an infection. You can have this test during the day.

Your treatment plan varies depending on what symptoms you have and how severe they are. In general, filariasis treatment may include:

Medication: You may take anti-parasitic medicines such as ivermectin (Stromectol®), diethylcarbamazine (Hetrazan®) or albendazole (Albenza®). These drugs destroy the adult worms in your blood or keep them from reproducing. Taking these medicines can also prevent passing the infection to someone else. Because the worms may still live in your body, you take these medicines once a year for a few weeks at a time.

Surgery: You may have surgery to remove dead worms from your bloodstream. If filariasis has caused hydrocele, you may also have surgery to relieve fluid buildup in your scrotum.

Elephantiasis management: Your healthcare provider may also recommend strategies to manage swelling, such as elevation or compression garments.