Lymphatic filariasis in rural areas of Patna District, Bihar. A challenge ahead.

Patna district was endemic for lymphatic filariasis (LF). During November 2004, a lymphatic filariasis survey was carried out in seven randomly selected villages from four PHCs of Patna district. Of 1878 night blood smears (NBS) examined, 117 were found positive for W. bancrofti infection (mf rate 6.2%). Microfilaria carriers were detected from all surveyed villages. In all areas prevalence of microfilaria generally increased with age to maximum 15-34 years and then decline within most age-groups. More males (6.4%) were affected than the females (5.8%). All microfilaria (mf) carriers were residents of Patna district. Over all disease rate was 9.1%. Out of 171 diseased individuals, 121 persons were having hydrocele (6.4%). Disease rate was higher in males (12.0%) than females (4.1%). The mean mf density was 11.7. There was no significant difference of mean mf density in males and females. Vector density ranged from 205 to 780 per ten man hours. The survey indicates that the filariasis situation remained unchanged since last fifty years and still is one of the major public health problem in surveyed areas.