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Lymphatic filariasis also known as elephantiasis is caused by parasitic worms of the Filarioidea type. Many cases of the disease have no symptoms. Some however develop large amounts of swelling of the arms, legs, or genitals. The skin may also become thicker and pain may occur. The changes to the body can result in social and economic problems for the affected person.[1]
’’’象皮病’’’（（{{lang|en|Elephantiasis}}），又稱作’’’淋巴絲蟲病’’’’（{{lang-en|Lymphatic filariasis}}），是由{{link-en|絲蟲總科|Filarioidea}}的寄生蟲引起的疾病[0]。許多罹患此病的病患並無症狀，然而有些個案卻出現手臂、腳或是[[生殖器]]的嚴重水腫，同時患部皮膚變厚並伴隨著疼痛，這些身體的改變進而造成病患社會及經濟上的問題[1]。
<!-- Cause and Diagnosis -->
The worms are spread by the bites of infected mosquito. Infections usually begin when people are children. There are three types of worms that cause the disease: Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori. Wuchereria bancrofti is the most common. The worms damage the lymphatic system.[1] The disease is diagnosed by looking, under a microscope, at blood collected during the night. The blood should be in the form of a thick smear and stained with Giemsa. Testing the blood for antibodies against the disease may also be used.[2]
<!-- 成因與診斷 -->
絲蟲是藉由受感染的[[蚊|蚊子]]叮咬而傳播，通常感染是從孩童時期開始。主要有三種絲蟲會導致淋巴絲蟲病：{{link-en|班氏絲蟲|Wuchereria bancrofti}}、{{link-en|Brugia malayi|馬來絲蟲}}和{{link-en|帝汶絲蟲|Brugia timori}}，其中以班氏絲蟲最常見。這些病原體會破壞[[淋巴系統]][1]。淋巴絲蟲病需藉由[[顯微鏡]]下檢視血液檢體來確診，血液檢體須於夜間收集，製成厚血液抹片並進行吉姆沙氏染色；除此之外，也可以透過檢查血液中相應的抗體來確認[2]。
<!-- Prevention and Treatment -->
Prevention is by treating entire groups in which the disease exists on a yearly basis in an effort to get rid of the disease entirely. This takes about six years. Medications used include albendazole with ivermectin or albendazole with diethylcarbamazine. The medications do not kill the adults worms but prevents further spread of the disease until the worms die on their own. Efforts to prevent mosquito bites are also recommended including reducing the number of mosquitoes and the use of bed nets.[1]
<!-- 預防與治療 -->
預防淋巴絲蟲病要針對出現患病者的族群全體進行治療，以求完全治癒該疾病的影響。方式是對該區域的所有人進行每年一次的投藥，且必須花費4-6年的時間。治所使用的藥物，包含了[[阿苯達唑]]配合[[伊維菌素]]，或是阿苯達唑配合{{link-en|乙胺嗪|Diethylcarbamazine}}。這些藥物無法殺死成蟲，但是能防止疾病進一步蔓延，直到絲蟲自我死亡。其他建議的預防方式還有避免蚊蟲叮咬，包括減少蚊蟲的數目，以及使用[[蚊帳]]等[1]。
<!-- Epidemiology -->
More than 120 million people are infected with lymphatic filariasis. About 1.4 billion people are at risk of the disease in 73 countries. The areas where it is most common are Africa and Asia. The disease results in economic losses of many billions of dollars a year.[1]
<!-- 流行病學 -->
世界上有超過1.2億人感染到淋巴絲蟲病，且在73個國家中有14億人有被感染的風險，其中以非洲和亞洲最常見。淋巴絲蟲病造成每年數十億美元的經濟損失[1]。