东南亚及西太平洋区的丝虫病

淋巴丝虫病为东南亚、西太平洋及南太平洋的重要公共卫生问题。此为慢性病，丝虫之成虫寄生于淋巴管或淋巴结，长达10－18年之久，致淋巴循环受阻塞而形成象皮病。根据微丝蚴在人体末梢血液之出现时间，分为日间和夜间之周期型与亚周期型。媒介多达40余种。防治方法主要赖药物治疗，世界卫生组织预期以现有的药物可于2020年消灭全球之淋巴丝虫病。本将班氏丝虫、马未丝虫及旁汶丝虫发现之经过，微丝蚴定期性，病媒蚊种及防治原则，作了相当完整的综述。笔曾在中所提及的多数国家实地防治丝虫病。

Filariasis in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific

Lymphatic filariasis is a major public health problem in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific.Periodic and subperiodic Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi occur in many countries. There are about 40 species of mosquito vectors with diverse ecology. Their importance in transmitting different forms of filariasis in different localities is summarized. For filariasis control, chemotherapy is the fundamental method. It is expected that a global elimination of lymphatic filariasis by drug treatment may be achieved by the year 2020.