Lymphatic Filariasis Survey in the Endemic Area(Sirsiya) of Rautahat District,Nepal

Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis refers to human filarial infection with the nematodeparasite (Wuchereria bancrofti). It has been known to be endemic inNepal since a long time and its recognition as pathogenic parasitecontinues to be found throughout the world. A total of 527 blood sampleswere collected during the study period between September 2005 to July2006 from Sirsiya (ward no. 13 of Gaur municipality). In this cross-sectional survey, Rauthat district was selected as the study area. Thecommunity people were informed about the study through the massorientation programme. Night blood samples were collected from earlobe. Questionnaire survey was performed to gain the necessaryinformation of the respondents in study area. Out of 527 samples 29samples (5.5%) were found to be positive for Microfilariaemia with ageranges between 2years to 80 years. In the present study the highestdistribution of filariasis was found among 51 to 60 years age group i.e.(14.29%) and no filarial case was found in the age group above 70 years.Regarding the sex-wise prevalence of disease, maximum infection wasrecorded in females i.e. 15/29 (51.7%) than the males i.e. 14/29 (48.2%).But statistically the difference between the males and females was found to be insignificant ( 2 = 0.0137, P>0.05). The prevalence of disease wasmainly due to illiteracy, lack of awareness about disease, carelessness touse of bed nets and poor sanitation. The lymphatic filariasis is not muchknown to many people. Thus people need to be familiarized with thisdisease and aware them through mass media, radio, and television. Thepeople should prevent themselves from the bites of mosquito, regularhealth check up and treatment of the person when microfilaria is seen inblood should be done. There is also a need to control the vectors side byside through out the elimination programme.