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.

In the case of chronic lymphatic filariasis treatment provides little benefit. None of the drugs able to remove the adult worms and if the level of microfilariae in the blood is high, severe immunologic reactions may occur, so that treatment is associated with antihistamines, antipyretics and even steroids.

a main strategy recommended for interrupting transmission is annual mass treatment of endemic areas with a single dose of albendazole, in combination with ivermectin or diethylcarbamazine. However, in severe cases, diethylcarbamazine should be administered with extreme caution because of their side effects. These treatments must be complemented with antimicrobial therapy to treat secondary infections.

The treatment is for loasis diethylcarbamazine, which has efficacy against adult worms and microfilariae face. However, it also can cause allergic reactions over the death of the parasite and therefore recommend the use of steroids. For parasites that migrate through the eye surgery can be used for its removal.

In the case of onchocerciasis, ivermectin treatment is selected and the vector control is proving useful in interrupting transmission of the disease. Furthermore, the semi-annual mass administration of ivermectin appear to be interrupting transmission.

Prophylaxis or prevention of these parasites is based on avoiding insect bites by using repellents and insecticides vector, covering his body with clothing, protecting the houses with metal fences and destroying, if possible, the breeding of the insect. The danger of the passengers are infected by any of the heartworm is real but relatively unimportant, since they tend to be parasitic light

Thus, advances in methods of treatment and control of transmission along with improved diagnostic techniques of infection point to a possible elimination over time of these parasites. Having established the World Health Organization two key objectives for removal: stop the spread of filariasis infection in all endemic countries, and alleviate and prevent suffering and disability of affected individuals.