Lymphatic filariasis in Luangwa District, South-East Zambia

Shawa, Sheila Tamara; Mwase, E. T.; Pedersen, Erik Helmer; Simonsen, Paul E.

doi:10.1186/1756-3305-6-299

Cited by 17 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…It is a geochemical disease mainly characterized by lymphedema which is a condition of localized fluid retention resulting from a compromised lymphatic system [ 11 , 12 ]. The main clinical feature of podoconiosis, oedema of the foot and lower leg, is similar to that observed in filarial infection due to Wuchereria bancrofti [ 13 , 14 ]. In both diseases, lymphoedema progresses to elephantiasis.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Detecting and staging podoconiosis cases in North West Cameroon: positive predictive value of clinical screening of patients by community health workers and researchers

et al. 2016

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BackgroundThe suitability of using clinical assessment to identify patients with podoconiosis in endemic communities has previously been demonstrated. In this study, we explored the feasibility and accuracy of using Community Health Implementers (CHIs) for the large scale clinical screening of the population for podoconiosis in North-west Cameroon.MethodsBefore a regional podoconiosis mapping, 193 CHIs and 50 health personnel selected from 6 health districts were trained in the clinical diagnosis of the disease. After training, CHIs undertook community screening for podoconiosis patients under health personnel supervision. Identified cases were later re-examined by a research team with experience in the clinical identification of podoconiosis.ResultsCases were identified by CHIs with an overall positive predictive value (PPV) of 48.5% [34.1–70%]. They were more accurate in detecting advanced stages of the disease compared to early stages; OR 2.07, 95% CI = 1.15–3.73, p = 0.015 for all advanced stages). Accuracy of detecting cases showed statistically significant differences among health districts (χ2 = 25.30, p = 0.0001).ConclusionPodoconiosis being a stigmatized disease, the use of CHIs who are familiar to the community appears appropriate for identifying cases through clinical diagnosis. However, to improve their effectiveness and accuracy, more training, supervision and support are required. More emphasis must be given in identifying early clinical stages and in health districts with relatively lower PPVs.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Detecting and staging podoconiosis cases in North West Cameroon: positive predictive value of clinical screening of patients by community health workers and researchers

et al. 2016

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“…Interestingly, our survey revealed that most of the respondents were aware of several ways used to control mosquito breeding, demonstrating some understanding of vector control strategies, although this knowledge was not necessarily translated to be part of an effective eradication program. While our results are in agreement with a previous study [ 20 , 27 ], a number of previous studies demonstrated that the majority of their subjects did not know the importance of minimizing mosquito contact in preventing infection [ 13 , 16 , 23 , 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Lymphatic filariasis in Peninsular Malaysia: a cross-sectional survey of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of residents

et al. 2014

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BackgroundLymphatic filariasis (LF) is a major cause of permanent disability in many tropical and sub-tropical countries of the world. Malaysia is one of the countries in which LF is an endemic disease. Five rounds of the mass drug administration (MDA) program have been conducted in Malaysia as part of the Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) by year 2020. This study investigated the level of awareness of LF and the MDA program in a population living in an endemic area of the country.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional survey that involved 230 respondents (≥15 years old) living in the LF endemic communities of Terengganu state in Peninsular Malaysia was performed. Demographic, socioeconomic, and knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) data of the respondents were obtained using pre-tested questionnaires and were analyzed using SPSS software version 13.0.ResultsMore than 80% of the respondents were aware of LF and the common symptoms of the disease. Moreover, about 70% of the respondents that were aware of LF indicated that it is a problematic disease. Approximately 77% of the respondents indicated that filariasis is transmitted by mosquitoes. Two-thirds of respondents preferred hospital treatment for illness; however, only 12% had participated and/or received treatment for LF during an MDA program. Only 35% of the respondents that participated in this research were aware of the MDA program that had taken place in the area. None of the respondents had knowledge of the drug used in the treatment of LF. The findings from this research indicated that there was no significant association between LF awareness and with gender, age group, educational status, occupation, or socio-economic status of the respondents (P >0.05).ConclusionA good proportion of the respondents are aware of LF, its mode of transmission and symptoms, however they demonstrated a poor knowledge of MDA which took place in the study area. For greater understanding of LF in the Malaysian population, there is a need for an enhancement in the delivery of health education and information programs and mass mobilization campaigns in endemic communities.

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“…funestus and An. gambiae with LF transmission, however, transmission was not directly confirmed ( Shawa et al, 2013 ). Overall LF prevalence was found to be low (8.6%) and indicated a marked decline from prevalence measured in 2003 (33.3%) ( Mwase et al, 2014 ), which the authors attribute to the concurrent scale up of vector control in the area.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Significant decline in lymphatic filariasis associated with nationwide scale-up of insecticide-treated nets in Zambia

Nsakashalo-Senkwe

Mwase

Chizema-Kawesha

et al. 2017

Parasite Epidemiology and Control

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Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a mosquito-borne disease, broadly endemic in Zambia, and is targeted for elimination by mass drug administration (MDA) of albendazole and diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) to at-risk populations. Anopheline mosquitoes are primary vectors of LF in Africa, and it is possible that the significant scale-up of malaria vector control over the past decade may have also impacted LF transmission, and contributed to a decrease in prevalence in Zambia. We therefore aimed to examine the putative association between decreasing LF prevalence and increasing coverage of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) for malaria vector control, by comparing LF mapping data collected between 2003–2005 and 2009–2011 to LF sentinel site prevalence data collected between 2012 and 2014, before any anti-LF MDA was started. The coverage of ITNs for malaria was quantified and compared for each site in relation to the dynamics of LF. We found a significant decrease in LF prevalence from the years 2003–2005 (11.5% CI95 6.6; 16.4) to 2012–2014 (0.6% CI95 0.03; 1.1); at the same time, there was a significant scale-up of ITNs across the country from 0.2% (CI95 0.0; 0.3) to 76.1% (CI95 71.4; 80.7) respectively. The creation and comparison of two linear models demonstrated that the geographical and temporal variation in ITN coverage was a better predictor of LF prevalence than year alone. Whilst a causal relationship between LF prevalence and ITN coverage cannot be proved, we propose that the scale-up of ITNs has helped to control Anopheles mosquito populations, which have in turn impacted on LF transmission significantly before the scale-up of MDA. This putative synergy with vector control has helped to put Zambia on track to meet national and global goals of LF elimination by 2020.

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Lymphatic filariasis in Luangwa District, South-East Zambia

Cited by 17 publications

References 37 publications

Detecting and staging podoconiosis cases in North West Cameroon: positive predictive value of clinical screening of patients by community health workers and researchers

Detecting and staging podoconiosis cases in North West Cameroon: positive predictive value of clinical screening of patients by community health workers and researchers

Lymphatic filariasis in Peninsular Malaysia: a cross-sectional survey of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of residents

Significant decline in lymphatic filariasis associated with nationwide scale-up of insecticide-treated nets in Zambia

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