Prophylaxis of elephantiasis in Nepal

The government of Nepal had started a programme for prophylaxis of elephantiasis in Nepal some wks ago. The drug which was being used has caused a massive morbidity in the palaces where the programme was being implicated. The places like Nepaljung and Veri are the main site where the programme was benig conducted. There has so far been around 2-3 deaths and >500 people are ill due to the side effects of the drug being used. Government has employed two doctors for the investigation of the illness. They have been sent to the areas so as to investigate if the cause of the illness is the drug or there are any other causes. The mortality is seen among the extremes of age group ( two kids of age 8 and 12; an old man of age 85). There also is reported an old man of age 65 who is so severe that he is in the verge of life and death.
    The symptom starts around a day or 2 of consumption of the drug. The symptoms are diarrhoea, fever, headache etc. The government has not yet published the epidemiological datas and census.

Prevalence in Nepal

- The overall prevalence of lymphatic filariasis from a 4,488-sample population was 13% and 33/37 districts were found to be endemic.

- On the basis of geographical data, the highest number of cases was found at altitudes between 500–700 m.

For the control of filarial worm in a community the drugs that can be used are:

             1. Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) 6 mg/kg body wt/ day for 12 days

             2. Ivermectin

                                                                           




                                                         Fig. Loa Loa filarial worm