THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF REPEATED DIETHYLCARBAMAZINE ADMINISTRATION WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MICROFILARAEMIA AND ELEPHANTIASIS

Abstract

The results of mass treatment with 50 mg diethylcarbamazine(DEC)/kg body wt followed by 2 annual selective retreatments in an area highly endemic for [human] Brugia timori infections are described. The criteria for selective retreatment are simple and practical for use in rural areas. An education program was developed which focused on describing the relationship between adenolymphangitis and filarial infections, the danger of repeated attacks and the efficiency of DEC in eliminating these attacks. Motivated persons in the community were charged with the responsibility of promptly treating all cases with acute clinical manifestations. With this program the microfilaria rate by finger prick decreased from 24 to 0%, and by Nuclepore filtration from 30 to 5%. Adenolymphangitis rate decreased from 46 to 11% and the elephantiasis rate from 17 to 4%.