Signs and symptoms

• The most spectacular symptom of lymphatic filariasis is elephantiasis—edema with thickening of the skin and underlying tissues. Elephantiasis results when the parasites lodge in the lymphatic system.Elephantiasis affects mainly the lower extremities.
• Different species of filarial worms tend to affect different parts of the body:
  • Wuchereria bancrofti can affect the legs, arms, vulva, breasts, and scrotum (causing hydrocele formation)
  • Brugia timori rarely affects the genitals.
• The subcutaneous worms present with:
  • skin rashes,
  • urticarial papules, and arthritis, as well as hyper- and Onchocerca volvulus manifests itself in the eyes, causing “river blindness” (onchocerciasis).
• Serous cavity filariasis presents with symptoms similar to subcutaneous filariasis, in addition to abdominal pain.