As a child living in Haiti I've seen many people with that disease and as an Haitian the first thought that I had was "gwopye" caused by a powder provided by a priest of voodoo.
According to the science of mediine, it is not a man made disease as we think it is called
Elephabtiasis or Lymphatic Filariasis. It is known to be a tropical disease, which is very common in Africa, the Caribbeans South America, India. It is caused by three types of parasitic worms: W
uchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori. The worm lives in the human lymph system. Tissue damaged by the worm restricts the normal flow of lymph fluids. this result in sweeling, scarring, and infections. The legs and groin are the most often infected. It is spread from infected persons to uneffected persons by mosquitoes bites; symptoms can appear 5-18 months after a mosquito bite.
There is no vaccine for filariasis, but it can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites by satying inside between dusk and dark; when outside wear long pants and long-sleeved shirt; spray exposed skin with an insect repellent. Even if infected people have a proper understanding of the disease, the adult worms are frighteningly hardy, too big for deworming drugs to kill and too deep in the body to remove surgically. Modern drugs aim to destroy the baby worms, called microfilariae.
Upcoming Events for the Next 3 Day(s) Private calendar events are seen only by member who owns calendar
04-11-06, 11:57 AM
Linear Mode
Similar Threads 
