[Studies on the recurrent attacks of acute adenolymphangitis due to Malayan filariasis].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of filarial and bacterial infections in the recurrent attacks of acute adenolymphangitis due to malayan fialriasis.

METHODS

1. To observe the seasonal fluctuation of acute attacks by performing monthly follow-up on patients with history of acute attacks in recent years. 2. To study the relationship between bacterial infection and filarial adenolymphangitis by performing bacteria culture and anti-streptolysin O test. 3. To investigate the variation of acute attacks by controlling filariasis transmission or by treating patients with a history of recurrent acute attacks.

RESULTS

1. The peak of acute attacks in patients coincided with the peak of vector transmission season. 2. Of the 97 cases examined by bacteria culture, 90 cases were negative; of the 255 cases examined by anti-streptolysin O test, the titres in 94.1% (143/152) of the cases with first attack and simple adenolymphangitis were within normal limits, however, the titres in 27.2% (28/103) of the cases complicated with elephantiasis were increased. 3. The acute attack rate of adenolymphangitis per year reduced significantly in cases with first attack and simple adenolymphangitis after effective control of filariasis transmission. 4. There was no evidence of the reduction of acute attacks by treating patients with DEC alone.

CONCLUSION

In malayan filariasis endemic areas, the main causes of recurrent attacks of acute adenolymphangitis might be the repeated filarial infections due to the persistence of filariasis transmission.