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The filariasis are a group of different infectious parasitic diseases that have as their common denominator being produced by nematodes (worms in the form of wire) from the same family, and transmitted from person to person through the bites of insects.

They are endemic in many tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and Pacific Islanders. Being extremely rare in Western countries.

Worldwide there are over 120 million affected, which causes filariasis are recognized as a major cause of permanent disability in endemic countries. It mainly affects the adult population between 25 to 40 years and are especially likely those with lymphatic malformations.

It also increases the incidence, type of weather and natural disasters (hurricanes and earthquakes) as well as the fact that its appearance mainly in remote rural areas and urban areas with sanitation facilities and inefficient expansion of slums makes these pathologies diseases linked to poverty.

Treatment

Pharmacological treatment of filariasis is with ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine and albendazole. But they all have serious drawbacks, and that drug treatment should be maintained for long due to the long duration of adult worms, the high frequency of re-infestation and lack of vaccines. If you want to interrupt transmission, it is necessary the development of effective drugs to eliminate the production of embryonic forms in full and final.
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