filariasis

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A disease caused by tiny worms spread by mosquitoes that makes legs or arms swell

noun
/ˌfɪləˈraɪəsɪs/

Specialized

: filariasis

Lymphatic filariasis can lead to severe swelling in the legs and arms of those infected.
lymphatic filariasis

Examples

At least three infectious diseases common in Africa are treated with mass administration of drugs that have been donated by the manufacturer: albendazole for filariasis, ivermectin for onchocerciasis, and azithromycin for trachoma.

Academic text (2003)
Each year, filariasis, a nematode worm infection that is usually not fatal, infects millions of people in the tropics and, in severe cases, causes elephantiasis.

Academic text (1992)
Clinic staff provide certain medications at no charge, such as prophylaxis against filariasis.

Academic text (1994)
Various mosquito species carry dengue fever, filariasis, yellow fever, and malaria, to cite a few examples.

Academic text (1996)
Investigators in Ghana have focused on malaria, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, filariasis, and diabetes.

Academic text (2001)
Countless others suffer from neglected tropical diseases, such as sleeping sickness, lymphatic filariasis, and blinding trachoma, for which there are still too few safe or effective medicines.

Blog text (32)
Many countries are working together to combat filariasis and improve public health.
Health organizations are providing free medications to prevent filariasis in at-risk communities.

Surface Forms

filariasis singular

filariases plural

Morphology

filariasis = filaria (transparent) = filaria + sis

The word is formed by the noun 'filaria' (the parasitic worm) plus a disease-forming suffix, so knowing 'filaria' makes the meaning predictable.

Etymology

Filariasis comes from the Latin word filum, which means 'thread' and is the same root you see in filament. The disease is named for the long, thin worms that look like threads and block the body's vessels, so filariasis means a disease from 'thread-like' worms.