Overview
Achondroplasia, also known as achondroplasia, is a parasitic disease caused by Achondroplasma parasites in the body cavities (thoracic, abdominal, and pericardial), mesentery, perirenal, or retroperitoneal tissues. The disease is transmitted by the bite of the midge Culex quinquefasciatus.
Etiology
Frequently present filarial females are long, (70-80) mm x 120 µm wide, males are long, 45 mm x 60 µm wide, and microfilariae are long, 200 µm x 4 µm wide, unsheathed, and irregularly periodic. When the intermediate host, the midge, bites the human body, the microfilariae are inhaled and develop into infected larvae in the body after about 7 days. When the midge sucks blood again, the infected larvae escape from the rostrum to the human skin and invade the human body through the blood-sucking wounds, develop and mature in the body for about 1 year, and the adult worms migrate in the subcutaneous connective tissues and develop the disease.
Symptoms
Filariasis can be parasitic for a long period of time without producing symptoms, but some cases may present with a variety of clinical symptoms, including angioneurotic edema, which is similar to that of Loa loa filariasis carabinieri, headache, arthralgia, neuropsychiatric symptoms, hepatosplenomegaly, eosinophilia, etc. In severe cases, pericarditis may occur, which may be associated with the development of a new disease. In severe cases, pericarditis and even heart failure may occur.
Examination
1. Fluid aspiration examination
If there is fluid accumulation, smear microscopic examination can be performed by puncture.
2. Blood test
Peripheral blood eosinophilia. It can be used as an auxiliary examination. Microfilariae can be found in the blood. Thick blood film staining method can not only find microfilariae, but also identify the species of worms by staining.
Diagnosis
Microfilariae can be found in the blood as a confirmation of the diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis
It should be differentiated from onchocerciasis and ehrlichiosis. Do species identification, such as thick blood film staining examination method. It can also be differentiated by clinical manifestations, such as onchocerciasis, which is characterized by ocular damage.
Complications
Arthritis, pericarditis, and heart failure in severe cases can occur. Arthritis can be characterized by joint pain and joint enlargement. Parasitic worms in the pericardium can cause pericardial tissue lesions, with symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnea, and in severe cases, shock and heart failure.
Treatment
1.Drug treatment
Mebendazole is more effective, 2 times/day for 30 days. Mebendazole and levamisole can also be used in combination therapy, divided into doses, the course of treatment for 10 to 14 days. Ethamizine is not satisfactory for adult filarial worms and microfilariae, and several courses of treatment are often needed, with 2 to 3 weeks as a course of treatment.
2.Surgical treatment
For filarial infection in the late stage of edema, pericarditis, serious patients can be surgical treatment.