Medicine against elephantiasis in 20 districts in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Jan 30: The entire population living in 60 districts of the country inhabited by mosquitoes is at risk of infection of lymphatic filariasis, the disease known as elephantiasis. [break]



“Besides resulting into permanent disability, the disease can damage the kidneys and also result into bloody or white urine,” said Dr Senendra Raj Upreti, director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. Speaking at a press meet to provide information about the two phase Mass Drug Administrative (MDA) program against elephantiasis, Dr Upreti said elephantiasis is the second main disease to cause disability in the country after leprosy.



The government is set to carry out the two phases of MDA in 20 districts which have a high risk of the disease. There are 120 million cases of infection recorded in the total world population.



The first phase of the program will be carried out on Saturday and Sunday (January 31 and February 1), while the second round will be carried out on February 7 and 8.



Pregnant women, children below the age of two years, and people taking medicine for other health problems such as those relating to their kidneys, are not eligible to take the medicine.



There are several potential side-effects of the medication, such as nausea and diarrhea. But these generally only occur if the bacteria are present in those taking the medicine.



The government did not carry out the campaign in 2008 as it was reported people fell ill after taking the medicine in some parts of the country, some of whom even died. Dr Upreti said the medicine does not kill people even if it presents side-effects. “But it can cause diarrhea,” he said. “If a person suffered diarrhea and did not get treatment the person may die, but it is not because of medicine.”



The Ministry for Health and Population decided to resume the program after the World Health Organization and a team from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital carried out research at a local level before recommending that it is safe to give the medicine. The fatal incident occurred because there was no direct supervision while giving the medicine, as well as no proper education provided to health workers to identify patients with existing kidney problems, pregnant women, and other serious and chronic health problems, the reports identified.



The Minister for Health and Population Giriraj Mani Pokhrel took the medicine against the disease, as followed by other health workers and journalists present at the press meet.

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