Lymphoedema Evidence Library › Topics › Filariasis and tropical causes
Filariasis and tropical causes
Filariasis and tropical causes
16 sources
Evidence in one minute
- Lymphatic filariasis is the leading cause of lymphoedema worldwide (>120 million infected, ~40 million disfigured). Keast 2014 · Alavi unknown
- Drugs: diethylcarbamazine, albendazole, ivermectin clear microfilariae; doxycycline may reduce filarial lymphoedema; vigorous skin hygiene and antibiotics prevent elephantine change. Debulking in one or two stages for advanced (grade 3–4) disease. Executive Committee of the International Society of Lymphology 2023
- Diagnosis: filarial antigen card test (listed in the SA statement); programme diagnostics shift to rapid antigen mapping once mass drug administration starts. Davey 2018 · Molyneux 2009
- Psychological burden is severe and should be part of care. Person 2008
- Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS) causes lymphoedema in sub-Saharan Africa — a South African differential. Ebrahim 2009
- African surgical perspective (Tanzania co-authors): Silvestri 2024.
- Low-resource care models: World Alliance for Wound and Lymphoedema Care 2009.
Update 2026-10-08 — downloaded evidence
- Hygiene-based care: acute dermatolymphangioadenitis OR 0.32; self-care halves attacks. Stocks 2015 · Douglass 2016
- Podoconiosis: endemic in 18 African countries (up to 8% prevalence); prevented by footwear. Deribe 2018
- LF in Africa: 35 endemic countries; MDA coverage 62% (2018); morbidity services lagging. Deribe 2020
- Benzopyrone (coumarin) trials in filarial lymphoedema unreliable. Badger 2004
Gaps
Podoconiosis now covered (Deribe 2018). No data on filariasis prevalence in South Africa (not endemic; relevant to migrants).
How the evidence points
| High | Mod. | Low | V. low | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Null or negative | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Sources on this page with a comparison, by the result of their primary outcome and the GRADE certainty of their main finding (Mod. = Moderate, V. low = Very low, None = not graded). Context sources are not counted. How direction is decided.
All 16 sources
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