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exams and tests	Hey Aarogya, How to diagnose Parasites - Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma infection) ?	How to diagnose Parasites - Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma infection) ?	The diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is typically made by serologic testing. A test that measures immunoglobulin G (IgG) is used to determine if a person has been infected. If it is necessary to try to estimate the time of infection, which is of particular importance for pregnant women, a test which measures immunoglobulin M (IgM) is also used along with other tests such as an avidity test. Diagnosis can be made by direct observation of the parasite in stained tissue sections, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or other biopsy material. These techniques are used less frequently because of the difficulty of obtaining these specimens. Parasites can also be isolated from blood or other body fluids (for example, CSF) but this process can be difficult and requires considerable time. Molecular techniques that can detect the parasite's DNA in the amniotic fluid can be useful in cases of possible mother-to-child (congenital) transmission. Ocular disease is diagnosed based on the appearance of the lesions in the eye, symptoms, course of disease, and often serologic testing.
treatment	Hi Aarogya, could you tell me What are the treatments for Parasites - Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma infection) ?	What are the treatments for Parasites - Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma infection) ?	Healthy people (nonpregnant) Most healthy people recover from toxoplasmosis without treatment. Persons who are ill can be treated with a combination of drugs such as pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, plus folinic acid. Pregnant women, newborns, and infants Pregnant women, newborns, and infants can be treated, although the parasite is not eliminated completely. The parasites can remain within tissue cells in a less active phase; their location makes it difficult for the medication to completely eliminate them. Persons with ocular disease Persons with ocular toxoplasmosis are sometimes prescribed medicine to treat active disease by their ophthalmologist. Whether or not medication is recommended depends on the size of the eye lesion, the location, and the characteristics of the lesion (acute active, versus chronic not progressing). Persons with compromised immune systems Persons with compromised immune systems need to be treated until they have improvement in their condition. For AIDS patients, continuation of medication for the rest of their lives may be necessary, or for as long as they are immunosuppressed. More on: Resources for Health Professionals: Treatment
prevention	Hey Aarogya, How to prevent Parasites - Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma infection) ?	How to prevent Parasites - Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma infection) ?	People who are healthy should follow the guidelines below to reduce risk of toxoplasmosis. If you have a weakened immune system, please see guidelines for Immunocompromised Persons. Reduce Risk from Food To prevent risk of toxoplasmosis and other infections from food: - Freeze meat for several days at sub-zero (0° F) temperatures before cooking to greatly reduce chance of infection. - Peel or wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating. - Wash cutting boards, dishes, counters, utensils, and hands with hot soapy water after contact with raw meat, poultry, seafood, or unwashed fruits or vegetables. More on: Handwashing The U.S. Government and the meat industry continue their efforts to reduce T. gondii in meat. Reduce Risk from the Environment To prevent risk of toxoplasmosis from the environment: - Avoid drinking untreated drinking water. - Wear gloves when gardening and during any contact with soil or sand because it might be contaminated with cat feces that contain Toxoplasma. Wash hands with soap and warm water after gardening or contact with soil or sand. - Teach children the importance of washing hands to prevent infection. - Keep outdoor sandboxes covered. - Feed cats only canned or dried commercial food or well-cooked table food, not raw or undercooked meats. - Change the litter box daily if you own a cat. The Toxoplasma parasite does not become infectious until 1 to 5 days after it is shed in a cat's feces. If you are pregnant or immunocompromised: - Avoid changing cat litter if possible. If no one else can perform the task, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands with soap and warm water afterwards. - Keep cats indoors. - Do not adopt or handle stray cats, especially kittens. Do not get a new cat while you are pregnant.
information	What is (are) Parasites - Hookworm ? Please provide a factual answer Aarogya	What is (are) Parasites - Hookworm ?	Hookworm is an intestinal parasite of humans. The larvae and adult worms live in the small intestine can cause intestinal disease. The two main species of hookworm infecting humans are Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus.
susceptibility	Hi Aarogya, could you tell me Who is at risk for Parasites - Hookworm? ?	Who is at risk for Parasites - Hookworm? ?	Hookworm is a soil-transmitted helminth (STH) and is one of the most common roundworm of humans. Infection is caused by the nematode parasites Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale. Hookworm infections often occur in areas where human feces are used as fertilizer or where defecation onto soil happens. Geographic Distribution The geographic distributions of the hookworm species that are intestinal parasites in human, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus, are worldwide in areas with warm, moist climates and are widely overlapping. Necator americanus was widespread in the Southeastern United States until the early 20th century.
exams and tests	Hi Aarogya, could you tell me How to diagnose Parasites - Hookworm ?	How to diagnose Parasites - Hookworm ?	The standard method for diagnosing the presence of hookworm is by identifying hookworm eggs in a stool sample using a microscope. Because eggs may be difficult to find in light infections, a concentration procedure is recommended.
treatment	Hey Aarogya, What are the treatments for Parasites - Hookworm ?	What are the treatments for Parasites - Hookworm ?	Anthelminthic medications (drugs that rid the body of parasitic worms), such as albendazole and mebendazole, are the drugs of choice for treatment of hookworm infections. Infections are generally treated for 1-3 days. The recommended medications are effective and appear to have few side effects. Iron supplements may also be prescribed if the infected person has anemia. More on: Resources for Health Professionals: Treatment
prevention	Aarogya, How to prevent Parasites - Hookworm ?	How to prevent Parasites - Hookworm ?	The best way to avoid hookworm infection is not to walk barefoot in areas where hookworm is common and where there may be human fecal contamination of the soil. Also, avoid other skin contact with such soil and avoid ingesting it. Infection can also be prevented by not defecating outdoors and by effective sewage disposal systems.
information	What is (are) Parasites - American Trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas Disease) ? Help me out Aarogya	What is (are) Parasites - American Trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas Disease) ?	Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to animals and people by insect vectors that are found only in the Americas (mainly, in rural areas of Latin America where poverty is widespread). Chagas disease (T. cruzi infection) is also referred to as American trypanosomiasis. It is estimated that as many as 8 million people in Mexico, Central America, and South America have Chagas disease, most of whom do not know they are infected. If untreated, infection is lifelong and can be life threatening. The impact of Chagas disease is not limited to the rural areas in Latin America in which vectorborne transmission occurs. Large-scale population movements from rural to urban areas of Latin America and to other regions of the world have increased the geographic distribution and changed the epidemiology of Chagas disease. In the United States and in other regions where Chagas disease is now found but is not endemic, control strategies should focus on preventing transmission from blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and mother-to-baby (congenital transmission).
susceptibility	Aarogya could you tell me Who is at risk for Parasites - American Trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas Disease)? ?	Who is at risk for Parasites - American Trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas Disease)? ?	Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Infection is most commonly acquired through contact with the feces of an infected triatomine bug (or "kissing bug"), a blood-sucking insect that feeds on humans and animals. Infection can also occur from: - mother-to-baby (congenital), - contaminated blood products (transfusions), - an organ transplanted from an infected donor, - laboratory accident, or - contaminated food or drink (rare) Chagas disease is endemic throughout much of Mexico, Central America, and South America where an estimated 8 million people are infected. The triatomine bug thrives under poor housing conditions (for example, mud walls, thatched roofs), so in endemic countries, people living in rural areas are at greatest risk for acquiring infection. Public health efforts aimed at preventing transmission have decreased the number of newly infected people and completely halted vectorborne transmission in some areas. Infection acquired from blood products, organ transplantation, or congenital transmission continues to pose a threat. By applying published seroprevalence figures to immigrant populations, CDC estimates that more than 300,000 persons with Trypanosoma cruzi infection live in the United States. Most people with Chagas disease in the United States acquired their infections in endemic countries. Although there are triatomine bugs in the U.S. , only rare vectorborne cases of Chagas disease have been documented. More on: Triatomine Bugs
exams and tests	Hi Aarogya, could you tell me How to diagnose Parasites - American Trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas Disease) ?	How to diagnose Parasites - American Trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas Disease) ?	The diagnosis of Chagas disease can be made by observation of the parasite in a blood smear by microscopic examination. A thick and thin blood smear are made and stained for visualization of parasites. However, a blood smear works well only in the acute phase of infection when parasites are seen circulating in blood. Diagnosis of chronic Chagas disease is made after consideration of the patient's clinical findings, as well as by the likelihood of being infected, such as having lived in an endemic country. Diagnosis is generally made by testing with at least two different serologic tests.
treatment	What are the treatments for Parasites - American Trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas Disease) ? Please provide a factual answer Aarogya	What are the treatments for Parasites - American Trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas Disease) ?	Treatment for Chagas disease is recommended for all people diagnosed with an acute infection, congenital infection, and for those with suppressed immune systems, and for all children with chronic infection. Adults with chronic infection may also benefit from treatment. For cardiac or gastrointestinal problems resulting from Chagas disease, symptomatic treatment may be helpful. Patients should consult with their primary health care provider. Some patients may be referred to a specialist, such as a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, or infectious disease specialist. In the U.S., medication for Chagas is available only through CDC. Your health care provider can talk with CDC staff about whether and how you should be treated. More on: Resources for Health Professionals: Antiparasitic Treatment
prevention	Hi Aarogya, How to prevent Parasites - American Trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas Disease) ?	How to prevent Parasites - American Trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas Disease) ?	In endemic areas of Mexico, Central America, and South America improved housing and spraying insecticide inside housing to eliminate triatomine bugs has significantly decreased the spread of Chagas disease. Further, screening of blood donations for Chagas is another important public health tool in helping to prevent transfusion-acquired disease. Early detection and treatment of new cases, including mother-to-baby (congenital) cases, will also help reduce the burden of disease. In the United States and in other regions where Chagas disease is now found but is not endemic, control strategies are focused on preventing transmission from blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and mother-to-baby.
susceptibility	Aarogya, Who is at risk for Nocardiosis? ?	Who is at risk for Nocardiosis? ?	The bacteria that cause nocardiosis are commonly found in soil and water. You could become sick with nocardiosis if: - You inhale (breathe in) the bacteria - Bacteria gets into an open wound or cut In rare cases, infection can occur during surgical procedures. Fortunately, nocardiosis is not spread person to person, so being around someone who has the disease will not make you sick.
susceptibility	Hey Aarogya, Who is at risk for Nocardiosis? ?	Who is at risk for Nocardiosis? ?	People with very weak immune (body defense) systems are at risk for getting nocardiosis. Several diseases and circumstances can cause the immune system to be weak. These include: - Diabetes - Cancer - HIV/AIDS - Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (an illness that causes the air sacs of the lungs to become plugged) - Connective tissue disorder (a disease that affects the tissue that connects and supports different parts of the body) - Alcoholism - Having a bone marrow or solid organ transplant - Taking high doses of drugs called corticosteroids In the United States, it has been estimated that 500-1,000 new cases of nocardiosis infection occur every year. Approximately 60% of nocardiosis cases are associated with pre-existing immune compromise. In addition, men have a greater risk of getting the infection than women; for every female who gets sick with nocardiosis, there are about 3 males who get the disease.
symptoms	What are the symptoms of Nocardiosis ? Help me out Aarogya	What are the symptoms of Nocardiosis ?	The symptoms of nocardiosis vary depending on which part of your body is affected. Nocardiosis infection most commonly occurs in the lung. If your lungs are infected, you can experience: - Fever - Weight loss - Night sweats - Cough - Chest pain - Pneumonia When lung infections occur, the infection commonly spreads to the brain. If your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) is infected, you can experience: - Headache - Weakness - Confusion - Seizures (sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain) Skin infections can occur when open wounds or cuts come into contact with contaminated soil. If your skin is affected, you can experience: - Ulcers - Nodules sometimes draining and spreading along lymph nodes
treatment	What are the treatments for Nocardiosis ? Help me out Aarogya	What are the treatments for Nocardiosis ?	If you think you might be sick with nocardiosis, talk to your doctor. He or she can help find out if you have the disease by performing tests that can identify the bacteria that causes nocardiosis. Testing may involve taking tissue samples from the part of the body that is infected. Tissue samples may include the: - Brain - Skin - Lungs (or other parts of the lower airways) - Mucus from the lower airways
susceptibility	Hi Aarogya, Who is at risk for Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF)? ?	Who is at risk for Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF)? ?	Like all arenaviruses, Chapare virus has a rodent host as its reservoir. Humans can contract CHHF through contact with an infected rodent. Contact can be direct or through inhalation of aerosolized Chapare virus from the urine or feces of infected rodents. Although arenaviruses have been isolated from insects, neither they nor any other intermediary host appear to spread CHHF. Person-to-person transmission of arenaviruses through aerosolization, although possible, is rare. From the only observed cluster of cases of CHHF, there was no evidence of person-to-person transmission. Transmission, if it can occur with CHHF, is most likely the result of direct contact with an infected person.
symptoms	Hey Aarogya, What are the symptoms of Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF) ?	What are the symptoms of Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF) ?	The symptoms of CHHF, as reported in the only described patient, resemble those of other South American hemorrhagic fevers, such as Argentine HF or Bolivian HF. The incubation period is unknown, but for Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF) is 6 to 16 days. The CHHF clinical course included: - fever - headache - articulation and muscle pain - vomiting These symptoms were followed by deterioration with multiple hemorrhagic signs. The only described CHHF patient died 14 days after onset of symptoms. Since Arenaviruses may enter the fetus through infection of the mother, and anecdotal evidence suggests that infected pregnant women may suffer miscarriages, it is reasonable to assume that both infection of the fetus and miscarriage may be associated with CHHF infection in the mother.
susceptibility	Aarogya could you tell me Who is at risk for Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF)? ?	Who is at risk for Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF)? ?	CHHF occurs in the Cochabamba region of Bolivia. Field workers Field workers are at greatest risk because of increased human contact with the reservoir rodent population. Sexual partners of field workers may be at greater risk as well. Laboratory infections have been frequently described with Arenaviruses and Chapare virus can certainly be transmitted to laboratory workers during manipulation of the virus especially during experimental infections of rodents.
exams and tests	Hi Aarogya, How to diagnose Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF) ?	How to diagnose Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF) ?	CHHF virus has been successfully isolated from both blood and serum during the acute febrile phase of illness. Although not undertaken at the time of the initial cluster, virus can certainly be isolated from tissue obtained post-mortem if available. A subsequent complete genomic analysis of Chapare virus facilitated the development of specific molecular detection (RT-PCR) assays. Serologic diagnosis of CHHF can be made by indirect immunofluorescent assay and ELISA. However, individuals from endemic areas who show fever, dizziness, and myalgia, accompanied by laboratory findings of low white blood cell and platelet counts and excess protein in the urine, should be suspected of having one of the South American hemorrhagic fever viruses. Clinical specimens should be tested using specific assays.
treatment	What are the treatments for Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF) ? Help me out Aarogya	What are the treatments for Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF) ?	Supportive therapy is important in CHHF. This includes: - maintenance of hydration - management of shock - sedation - pain relief - usual precautions for patients with bleeding disorders - transfusions (when necessary) Use of convalescent plasma therapy for treatment of AHF reduces mortality significantly and anecdotal evidence shows that the antiviral drug ribavirin may also hold promise for treating AHF. Ribavirin has also been considered for preventing development of disease in people exposed to other arenaviruses. Recovery The precise mortality of CHHF is unknown and the only described case was fatal. Patients who have suffered from other arenaviruses may continue to excrete virus in urine or semen for weeks after recovery. For this reason, these fluids should be monitored for infectivity, since convalescent patients have the potential to infect others (particularly sexual partners) via these fluids.
prevention	How to prevent Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF) ? Please provide a factual answer Aarogya	How to prevent Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF) ?	Although rodent control would be desirable, it will not be a successful strategy for preventing Chapare hemorrhagic fever cases caused by exposures outdoors. As for other hemorrhagic fevers, full barrier nursing procedures should be implemented during management of suspected or confirmed CHHF cases.
information	Aarogya could you tell me what is yersiniosis for Yersinia ?	what is yersiniosis for Yersinia ?	Yersiniosis is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium of the genus Yersinia. In the United States, most human illness is caused by one species, Y. enterocolitica. Infection with Y. enterocolitica can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the age of the person infected. Infection with Y. enterocolitica occurs most often in young children. Common symptoms in children are fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Symptoms typically develop 4 to 7 days after exposure and may last 1 to 3 weeks or longer. In older children and adults, right-sided abdominal pain and fever may be the predominant symptoms, and may be confused with appendicitis. In a small proportion of cases, complications such as skin rash, joint pains, or spread of bacteria to the bloodstream can occur.
frequency	how common is infection with y. enterocolitica for Yersinia ? Please provide a factual answer Aarogya	how common is infection with y. enterocolitica for Yersinia ?	Y. enterocolitica is a relatively infrequent cause of diarrhea and abdominal pain. Based on data from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), which measures the burden and sources of specific diseases over time, approximately one culture-confirmed Y. enterocolitica infection per 100,000 persons occurs each year. Children are infected more often than adults, and the infection is more common in the winter.
exams and tests	Hi Aarogya, how can y. enterocolitica infections be diagnosed for Yersinia ?	how can y. enterocolitica infections be diagnosed for Yersinia ?	Y. enterocolitica infections are generally diagnosed by detecting the organism in the stools. Many laboratories do not routinely test for Y. enterocolitica,so it is important to notify laboratory personnel when infection with this bacterium is suspected so that special tests can be done. The organism can also be recovered from other sites, including the throat, lymph nodes, joint fluid, urine, bile, and blood.
treatment	Hey Aarogya, could you tell me how can y. enterocolitica infections be treated for Yersinia ?	how can y. enterocolitica infections be treated for Yersinia ?	Uncomplicated cases of diarrhea due to Y. enterocolitica usually resolve on their own without antibiotic treatment. However, in more severe or complicated infections, antibiotics such as aminoglycosides, doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or fluoroquinolones may be useful.
prevention	what are public health agencies doing to prevent or control yersiniosis for Yersinia ? Please provide a factual answer Aarogya	what are public health agencies doing to prevent or control yersiniosis for Yersinia ?	The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors the frequency of Y. enterocolitica infections through the foodborne disease active surveillance network (FoodNet). In addition, CDC conducts investigations of outbreaks of yersiniosis to control them and to learn more about how to prevent these infections. CDC has collaborated in an educational campaign to increase public awareness about prevention of Y. enterocolitica infections. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspects imported foods and milk pasteurization plants and promotes better food preparation techniques in restaurants and food processing plants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture monitors the health of food animals and is responsible for the quality of slaughtered and processed meat. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates and monitors the safety of our drinking water supplies.
information	What is (are) Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis ? Help me out Aarogya	What is (are) Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis ?	Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Vector Information
susceptibility	Who is at risk for Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis? ? Help me out Aarogya	Who is at risk for Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis? ?	There are three different filarial species that can cause lymphatic filariasis in humans. Most of the infections worldwide are caused by Wuchereria bancrofti. In Asia, the disease can also be caused by Brugia malayi and Brugia timori. The infection spreads from person to person by mosquito bites. The adult worm lives in the human lymph vessels, mates, and produces millions of microscopic worms, also known as microfilariae. Microfilariae circulate in the person's blood and infect the mosquito when it bites a person who is infected. Microfilariae grow and develop in the mosquito. When the mosquito bites another person, the larval worms pass from the mosquito into the human skin, and travel to the lymph vessels. They grow into adult worms, a process that takes 6 months or more. An adult worm lives for about 5–7 years. The adult worms mate and release millions of microfilariae into the blood. People with microfilariae in their blood can serve as a source of infection to others. A wide range of mosquitoes can transmit the parasite, depending on the geographic area. In Africa, the most common vector is Anopheles and in the Americas, it is Culex quinquefasciatus. Aedes and Mansonia can transmit the infection in the Pacific and in Asia. Many mosquito bites over several months to years are needed to get lymphatic filariasis. People living for a long time in tropical or sub-tropical areas where the disease is common are at the greatest risk for infection. Short-term tourists have a very low risk. Programs to eliminate lymphatic filariasis are under way in more than 50 countries. These programs are reducing transmission of the filarial parasites and decreasing the risk of infection for people living in or visiting these communities. Geographic distribution Lymphatic filariasis affects over 120 million people in 73 countries throughout the tropics and sub-tropics of Asia, Africa, the Western Pacific, and parts of the Caribbean and South America. In the Americas, only four countries are currently known to be endemic: Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Guyana and Brazil. In the United States, Charleston, South Carolina, was the last known place with lymphatic filariasis. The infection disappeared early in the 20th century. Currently, you cannot get infected in the U.S.
exams and tests	How to diagnose Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis ? Please provide a factual answer Aarogya	How to diagnose Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis ?	The standard method for diagnosing active infection is the identification of microfilariae in a blood smear by microscopic examination. The microfilariae that cause lymphatic filariasis circulate in the blood at night (called nocturnal periodicity). Blood collection should be done at night to coincide with the appearance of the microfilariae, and a thick smear should be made and stained with Giemsa or hematoxylin and eosin. For increased sensitivity, concentration techniques can be used. Serologic techniques provide an alternative to microscopic detection of microfilariae for the diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis. Patients with active filarial infection typically have elevated levels of antifilarial IgG4 in the blood and these can be detected using routine assays. Because lymphedema may develop many years after infection, lab tests are most likely to be negative with these patients.
treatment	What are the treatments for Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis ? Please provide a factual answer Aarogya	What are the treatments for Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis ?	Patients currently infected with the parasite Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) is the drug of choice in the United States. The drug kills the microfilaria and some of the adult worms. DEC has been used world-wide for more than 50 years. Because this infection is rare in the U.S., the drug is no longer approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and cannot be sold in the U.S. Physicians can obtain the medication from CDC after confirmed positive lab results. CDC gives the physicians the choice between 1 or 12-day treatment of DEC (6 mg/kg/day). One day treatment is generally as effective as the 12-day regimen. DEC is generally well tolerated. Side effects are in general limited and depend on the number of microfilariae in the blood. The most common side effects are dizziness, nausea, fever, headache, or pain in muscles or joints. DEC should not be administered to patients who may also have onchocerciasis as DEC can worsen onchocercal eye disease. In patients with loiasis, DEC can cause serious adverse reactions, including encephalopathy and death. The risk and severity of the adverse reactions are related to Loa loa microfilarial density. The drug ivermectin kills only the microfilariae, but not the adult worm; the adult worm is responsible for the pathology of lymphedema and hydrocele. Some studies have shown adult worm killing with treatment with doxycycline (200mg/day for 4–6 weeks). Patients with clinical symptoms Lymphedema and elephantiasis are not indications for DEC treatment because most people with lymphedema are not actively infected with the filarial parasite. To prevent the lymphedema from getting worse, patients should ask their physician for a referral to a lymphedema therapist so they can be informed about some basic principles of care such as hygiene, exercise and treatment of wounds. Patients with hydrocele may have evidence of active infection, but typically do not improve clinically following treatment with DEC. The treatment for hydrocele is surgery. More on: Resources for Health Professionals: Treatment
prevention	Aarogya, How to prevent Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis ?	How to prevent Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis ?	The best way to prevent lymphatic filariasis is to avoid mosquito bites. The mosquitoes that carry the microscopic worms usually bite between the hours of dusk and dawn. If you live in an area with lymphatic filariasis: - at night - sleep in an air-conditioned room or - sleep under a mosquito net - between dusk and dawn - wear long sleeves and trousers and - use mosquito repellent on exposed skin. Another approach to prevention includes giving entire communities medicine that kills the microscopic worms -- and controlling mosquitoes. Annual mass treatment reduces the level of microfilariae in the blood and thus, diminishes transmission of infection. This is the basis of the global campaign to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. Experts consider that lymphatic filariasis, a neglected tropical disease (NTD), can be eradicated and a global campaign to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem is under way. The elimination strategy is based on annual treatment of whole communities with combinations of drugs that kill the microfilariae. As a result of the generous contributions of these drugs by the companies that make them, tens of millions of people are being treated each year. Since these drugs also reduce levels of infection with intestinal worms, benefits of treatment extend beyond lymphatic filariasis. Successful campaigns to eliminate lymphatic filariasis have taken place in China and other countries. More on: Insect Bite Prevention
information	Aarogya could you tell me What is (are) Parasites - Loiasis ?	What is (are) Parasites - Loiasis ?	Loiasis is an infection caused by the parasitic worm Loa loa.
susceptibility	Aarogya could you tell me Who is at risk for Parasites - Loiasis? ?	Who is at risk for Parasites - Loiasis? ?	Loa loa parasites are found in West and Central Africa. Ten countries have areas where there are high rates of infection (i.e., where more than 40% of the people who live in that area report that they have had eye worm in the past). An estimated 14.4 million people live in these areas of high rates of infection. Another 15.2 live in areas where 20–40% of people report that they have had eye worm in the past. More on: Where Loa Loa is Prevelant [WHO Map] The people most at risk for loiasis are those who live in the certain rain forests in West and Central Africa. The deerflies that pass the parasite to humans usually bite during the day and are more common during the rainy season. They are attracted by the movement of people and by smoke from wood fires. Rubber plantations are areas where more deerflies may be found. The flies do not typically enter homes, but they might be attracted to homes that are well lit. Travelers are more likely to become infected if they are in areas where they are bitten by deerflies for many months, though occasionally they get infected even if they are in an affected area for less than 30 days. Your risk of infection depends on the number of bites received, the number of infected deerflies in the area you visit, and the length of your stay in the area.
exams and tests	Hey Aarogya, How to diagnose Parasites - Loiasis ?	How to diagnose Parasites - Loiasis ?	In people who have been bitten by the flies that carry Loa loa in areas where Loa loa is known to exist, the diagnosis can be made in the following ways: - Identification of the adult worm by a microbiologist or pathologist after its removal from under the skin or eye - Identification of an adult worm in the eye by a health care provider - Identification of the microfilariae on a blood smear made from blood taken from the patient between 10AM and 2PM - Identification of antibodies against L. loa on specialized blood test Diagnosis of loiasis can be difficult, especially in light infections where there are very few microfilariae in the blood. The specialized blood test is not widely available in the United States. A positive antibody blood test in someone with no symptoms means only that the person was infected sometime in his/her life. It does not mean that the person still has living parasites in his/her body.
treatment	What are the treatments for Parasites - Loiasis ? Help me out Aarogya	What are the treatments for Parasites - Loiasis ?	Decisions about treatment of loiasis can be difficult and often require advice from an expert in infectious diseases or tropical medicine. Although surgical removal of adult worms moving under the skin or across the eye can be done to relieve anxiety, loiasis is not cured by surgery alone. There are two medications that can be used to treat the infection and manage the symptoms. The treatment of choice is diethylcarbamazine (DEC), which kills the microfilariae and adult worms. Albendazole is sometimes used in patients who are not cured with multiple DEC treatments. It is thought to kill adult worms. Certain people with heavy infections are at risk of brain inflammation when treated with DEC. This can cause coma or sometimes death. People with heavy infections need to be treated by experienced specialists. Sometimes, other medical conditions need to be addressed first in order to make it safer to use DEC. Sometimes treatment is not recommended. More on: Resources for Health Professionals: Treatment
prevention	Hi Aarogya, could you tell me How to prevent Parasites - Loiasis ?	How to prevent Parasites - Loiasis ?	There are no programs to control or eliminate loiasis in affected areas. Your risk of infection may be less in areas where communities receive regular treatment for onchocerciasis or lymphatic filariasis. There are no vaccines that protect you from loiasis. If you are going to be in an area with loiasis for a long period of time, diethylcarbamazine (DEC)—300mg taken once a week—can reduce your risk of infection. Avoiding areas where the deerflies are found, such as muddy, shaded areas along rivers or around wood fires, may also reduce your risk of infection. You may reduce your risk of bites by using insect repellants that contain DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) and wearing long sleeves and long pants during the day, which is when deerflies bite. Treating your clothes with permethrin may also help. For a description of CDC's information for preventing insect bites, see CDC's Yellow Book. More on: Insect Bite Prevention
susceptibility	Hi Aarogya, Who is at risk for Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever (OHF)? ?	Who is at risk for Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever (OHF)? ?	Humans can become infected through tick bites or through contact with the blood, feces, or urine of an infected, sick, or dead animal – most commonly, rodents. Occupational and recreational activities such as hunting or trapping may increase human risk of infection. Transmission may also occur with no direct tick or rodent exposure as OHFV appears to be extremely stable in different environments. It has been isolated from aquatic animals and water and there is even evidence that OHFV can be transmitted through the milk of infected goats or sheep to humans. No human-to-human transmission of OHFV has been documented but infections due to lab contamination have been described.
symptoms	Aarogya could you tell me What are the symptoms of Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever (OHF) ?	What are the symptoms of Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever (OHF) ?	After an incubation period of 3-8 days, the symptoms of OHF begin suddenly with chills, fever, headache, and severe muscle pain with vomiting, gastrointestinal symptoms and bleeding problems occurring 3-4 days after initial symptom onset. Patients may experience abnormally low blood pressure and low platelet, red blood cell, and white blood cell counts. After 1-2 weeks of symptoms, some patients recover without complication. However, the illness is biphasic for a subset of patients who experience a second wave of symptoms at the beginning of the third week. These symptoms include fever and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). The case fatality rate of OHF is low (0.5% to 3%).