ACANTHOCHEILONEMIASIS Meaning and
Definition
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Acanthocheilonemiasis is a rare tropical infectious disease caused by the parasitic worm Acanthocheilonema perstans. The disease is primarily found in certain regions of Africa, particularly in rainforest areas.
The parasite is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected chrysops flies, which serve as intermediate hosts for the parasite. Once in the human body, the larvae of Acanthocheilonema perstans develop into adult worms, which inhabit the subcutaneous tissues and body cavities such as the abdomen, chest, and pleural space.
Symptoms of acanthocheilonemiasis are generally mild and include intermittent fever, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain. In some cases, there may be an enlargement of the liver or spleen. Unlike other filarial infections, acanthocheilonemiasis does not typically cause lymphatic obstruction or elephantiasis.
Diagnosis of acanthocheilonemiasis is carried out through microscopic examination of blood samples, where the presence of microfilariae can be observed. Molecular techniques such as PCR may also be used for identification and confirmation of the parasite.
Treatment for acanthocheilonemiasis involves the administration of various antiparasitic drugs such as ivermectin and albendazole, which are effective in reducing microfilariae levels in the blood. However, complete elimination of the parasite may be challenging, and recurrent infections are common.
Prevention strategies for acanthocheilonemiasis primarily involve controlling the population of chrysops flies through the use of insect repellents, protective clothing, and avoidance of fly-infested areas.
Common Misspellings for ACANTHOCHEILONEMIASIS
- zcanthocheilonemiasis
- scanthocheilonemiasis
- wcanthocheilonemiasis
- qcanthocheilonemiasis
- axanthocheilonemiasis
- avanthocheilonemiasis
- afanthocheilonemiasis
- adanthocheilonemiasis
- acznthocheilonemiasis
- acsnthocheilonemiasis
- acwnthocheilonemiasis
- acqnthocheilonemiasis
- acabthocheilonemiasis
- acamthocheilonemiasis
- acajthocheilonemiasis
- acahthocheilonemiasis
- acanrhocheilonemiasis
- acanfhocheilonemiasis
- acanghocheilonemiasis
- acanyhocheilonemiasis
Etymology of ACANTHOCHEILONEMIASIS
The word "Acanthocheilonemiasis" is derived from two main components:
1. Acanthocheilonema: This term consists of two parts - "acantho-" and "cheilonema".
- "Acantho-" is derived from the Greek word "akantha", meaning "thorn" or "spine". It is commonly used in biology to refer to spiny structures found in various organisms.
- "Cheilonema" comes from the Greek word "cheilos", meaning "lip". "Cheilonema" refers to a genus of thread-like parasitic nematode worms that mainly inhabit the subcutaneous tissues of their host.
2. "-iasis": This suffix is used in medical terminology to denote a disease caused by a specific organism.
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