Common Name(s):
Elephantiasis
Alternative Names & Classifications:
Lymphatic Filariasis (CLINICAL)
Description
Infective larvae are transmitted by mosquitoes and migrate to the lymphatic vessels, where they mature into adult worms that physically and immunologically damage the lymphatic endothelium. Over years, this chronic damage leads to severe fluid retention, profound lymphedema, and secondary bacterial infections. It affects impoverished populations in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.