Influence of seasonal variation on reported filarial attacks among people living with lymphedema in Ghana.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) is a vector-borne neglected tropical disease caused by the filarial nematode parasites that can lead to the disfiguring swelling of the limbs (lymphedema or elephantiasis for late stage) and/or genitalia (hydrocele) in men. Growing evidence suggests that not only are filarial lymphedema patients confronted with huge societal stigma and discrimination, but also experience acute filarial attacks accompanied by swelling of the affected part(s), fever, wounds and peeling of the skin of affected limbs(s). However, the extent to which seasonal variation influence filarial attacks among people with lymphedema was highly speculated without empirical evidence and was thus investigated.

Methods

In light of this, a cross-sectional study where 142 (7

SUBMITTER: Kwarteng A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6528377 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature