Ultrasonographic examination of Haitian children with lymphatic filariasis: a longitudinal assessment in the context of antifilarial drug treatment

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2005 May;72(5):642-8.

Abstract

To assess the clinical findings associated with detection of adult Wuchereria bancrofti worms on ultrasound, 186 schoolchildren in a filariasis-endemic area of Haiti underwent physical and ultrasonographic examinations. The filaria dance sign (FDS) of adult W. bancrofti was detected in the inguinal and crural lymphatics of 28 (15%) children. FDS detection was more common in older children (P = 0.003) and in those with a history of inguinal lymph node inflammation (P = 0.002) or crural lymphadenopathy on physical exam (P = 0.01). Twenty-five FDS-positive children were reexamined after three annual cycles of mass treatment for lymphatic filariasis (LF). The total number of adult worm nests detected by ultrasound decreased from 29 to 4 (P </=0.0001). FDS and lymphangiectasia were detected in the intrascrotal (N = 3) and inguinal (N = 1) lymphatic vessels of three postpubescent boys. This study demonstrates clinical and subclinical findings of LF in FDS-positive children.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Albendazole / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diethylcarbamazine / therapeutic use
  • Elephantiasis, Filarial / diagnostic imaging*
  • Elephantiasis, Filarial / drug therapy*
  • Elephantiasis, Filarial / parasitology
  • Female
  • Filaricides / therapeutic use*
  • Haiti
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Lymphatic System / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lymphatic System / parasitology
  • Male
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Filaricides
  • Albendazole
  • Diethylcarbamazine