2005
Physicians' management of filarial lymphoedema and hydrocele in Pondicherry, India
Publication
Publication
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Transactions , Volume 99 - Issue 1 p. 75- 77
Many countries have implemented mass drug administration programmes to eliminate lymphatic filariasis, but few have also implemented morbidity management programmes to help patients with chronic lymphoedema or hydrocele due to the infection. A study was carried out to assess current morbidity management by physicians in Pondicherry, India. Fifty-two physicians were interviewed, using a semi-structured questionnaire. For the management of hydrocele, all physicians referred hydrocele patients for surgery and 83% prescribed diethylcarbamazine (DEC). For the management of chronic lymphoedema patients, most doctors (75%) prescribed DEC and 56% mentioned the possibility of surgery. Only 10% of the physicians gave advice about limb hygiene, although recent research has shown the importance of hygiene measures to prevent further progression of lymphoedema. For the management of lymphoedema patients presenting with acute attacks, all physicians prescribed DEC and antibiotics and only 15% gave advice about limb hygiene. We conclude that limb hygiene instruction for home care should be more strongly emphasised to optimize management of lymphoedema patients in Pondicherry.
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doi.org/10.1016/j.trstmh.2004.05.001, hdl.handle.net/1765/70258 | |
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Transactions | |
Organisation | Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam |
Schellekens, S., Ananthakrishnan, S., Stolk, W., Habbema, D., & Ravi, R. (2005). Physicians' management of filarial lymphoedema and hydrocele in Pondicherry, India. Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Transactions, 99(1), 75–77. doi:10.1016/j.trstmh.2004.05.001 |