Lymphatic Filariasis Research Paper

Lymphatic Filariasis is a disease to the lymphatic system and is the “leading cause to permanent disability in the world” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The lymphatic system plays a major role to our immune system. Lymph is created from the lymphatic system which contain lymphocytes and white blood cells which as we know white blood cells are key to fighting off infections of any sort. Organs in the lymphatic system also dispose of some waste in the body. Lymph nodes are one of those organs that filter foreign substances out. From my past experience with Mononucleosis I know that the lymph nodes can swell up when trying to get rid of foreign substances. Lymphatic Filariasis is a parasite that affects the lymphatic system and …show more content…
Once transferred into a human the larvae of the parasite will then migrate to the lymphatic vessels and nodes where they will develop microfilariae-producing adults. Microfilariae are the larva of the parasite that are what causes the infection in humans or animals. These Microfilariae are what cause Lymphatic Filariasis which is more known as elephantiasis in humans(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The female parasite produce these microfilariae, infect the human host and once transferred the parasite will then migrate to the lymph nodes and the lymph vessels of the human host (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Once this occurs, the life of this parasite is repeated by another mosquito transferring the blood of an infected host into another …show more content…
Also, back in 2007 546 million people around the world were treated to prevent transmission of lymphatic filariasis("Lymphatic Filariasis (elephantiasis): 546 Million People Treated Worldwide in 2007 Alone."). The United States is one of the countries that has no current patients infected with this disease, there was only one occurrence in the united states of disease caused by lymphatic filariasis which disappeared in the early 20th century and has not came up since(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Although lymphatic filariasis has not been known to be deadly it can have a serious effect on their overall life. To compare numbers, most people remember the Ebola outbreaks that scared many people and there was a total of 28,673 cases and 11,315 deaths that were reported from this virus ("Ebola in Africa: The End of a Tragedy?"). Now death caused by Ebola were more than Lymphatic filariasis by a long shot but the overall number of cases compared to each other Lymphatic Filariasis wins by a long shot against Ebola which was considered really contagious and scared