Unilateral Leg Swelling

Abstract

A 50-year old man was consulted due to right leg swelling concomitant with redness and pain since two months between admission. The patient experienced fever and dull pain in right inguinal region before the leg became swollen. Antibiotic and antipyretic had been given but gave unsatisfaction response. No history of bedridden, hospitalization, or malignancy. He worked as a palm oil farmer in Geragas Village, langkat District, North Sumatera, Indonesia, an endemic region of Bancroftian filariasis.
Physical examination revealed normal vital signs, there was non pitting oedema and redness in right gastrocnemius region (Figure 1). Laboratory results of routine blood count and haemostasis were within normal limit, except leucocytosis (12000/m3) and eosinophilia (15%). Peripheral blood sample was drawn between 10 pm and 2 am and showed positive microfilariae with gently curved body, a tail that is tapered to a point, and the nuclear column is loosely packed, appropriate for Wuchereria bancrofti (Figure 2).