title: Oral filariasis--a case report.
abstract: Filarial worms are nematodes that dwell in the subcutaneous tissues and lymphatics of human hosts. In India, filariasis is predominantly caused by a species of nematode called Wuchereria bancrofti. The disease is transmitted through the bite of blood sucking mosquitoes. The salient clinical feature of the disease is lymphangitis leading to elephantiasis of the legs, arms, scrotum and breast. Oral or perioral involvement is very rare. We report a case of filariasis which was diagnosed after biopsy of an innocuous cheek nodule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Lighthouse Hill Road, Mangalore 575001, India.
authors.forename: Mohan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baliga
authors.forename: Arvind
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
authors.forename: Nakul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uppal
mesh_terms: D002610:Cheek / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005368:Filariasis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000601:surgery*