What is Filariasis?
A disease caused by an infection of roundworms called Filarioiden. The mode of transmission is through mosquito bite. Considered as a vector-borne disease it can transfer just a bite of a mosquito from infected host to a new one.
Here in the Philippines, we have cases of filariasis. I am a nurse under the program of Department of Health and experienced the mass drug adminstration for filaria.
We gave albendazole 400mg and diethylcarbamazine citrate 50mg
for prophylaxis even when the clients are living on the mountain top. We call it the mangyan community.
The doses for clients 2year old to 5year old are 1 albendazole and 1 dec, for 6 year old to 12 year old are 1 albendazole and 2 dec, for 13 year old to 20 year of age are 1 albendazole and 4 dec, and for 21 years and above are 1 albendazole and 5 dec.
We take note that these medicines are contraindicated to pregnant women,lactating ,those who are under 2 years of age, with fever and loose bowel movement,with kidney disease, goiter ,and heart disease and persons with severe illness.
Via dump truck as a use of transportation we crossed the rivers and went to the mountain top as well as our service of being a health care provider.