RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A model for self-management of chronic filarial lymphoedema with acute dermato-lymphangio-adenitis
JF BMJ Case Reports
JO BMJ Case Reports
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e244721
DO 10.1136/bcr-2021-244721
VO 14
IS 11
A1 Shetye, Jaimala Vijay
A1 Jain, Anjali Suresh
A1 Kachpile, Sheral Thomas
A1 Patil, Ekta Nitin
YR 2021
UL http://casereports.bmj.com/content/14/11/e244721.abstract
AB Secondary lymphoedema due to filariasis is a leading cause of morbidity in India. We present a case of a 54-year-old female with lymphatic filariasis for 18 years, with three to four episodes of acute dermato-lymphangio-adenitis (ADLA) every year. The patient had voluntarily restricted social interaction and community participation. A combination of interventions provided in 17 physiotherapy sessions over a period of 20 days showed notable improvement, by reducing limb volume and ADLA episodes and by improving limb shape, functional capacity and quality of life. Interventions included aerobic exercise, decongestion therapy with faradism under pressure and exercises with elevation. This gain was maintained throughout the 8 months of the pandemic. Patient education and counselling along with home programme of self-bandaging and self-limb hygiene played a major role in the recovery of the patient. Self-reliance in management was important because of the pandemic, which restricted the patient from attending the outpatient department.