This case study was compiled by IMA World Health as part of the lymphatic filariasis morbidity management programme. We’ve included an excerpt here, but you can can access the full case study at this link. See Monday’s blog post for more about the program.
Mahara Bawa showing us the ointment she uses for her leg
One of the biggest difficulties a Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) patient faces is the occasional acute attacks that can literally cripple the person for a few days. CASA staff visited patients to discuss these acute attacks and the impact on their lives living with LF.
‘Whenever I do laborious work, and exert myself I am likely to fall sick,’ said one patient.
‘When I do some work,’ said Mahara Bawa of Sarapari village under Sarapari panchcyat (Tangi Block) ‘I feel if I did not have this disease, I could give my 100 percent.’ Mahara Bawa a lady in her fifties regrets not being able to give her full energy. Some 10 years back Mahara suddenly had a fever; there was pain in her legs followed by swelling. The neighbours suspected it was Lymphatic Filariasis, the doctor confirmed it.
‘No, I didn’t feel bad,’ she replied when we asked what her initial reaction was, ‘but yes, I was a little down, after all this could happen to anyone.’ Mahara’s father too had Lymphatic Filariasis.
Mahara’s both legs are swollen due to the infection, she however can manage to live with it, but she dreads the acute attacks.
‘During the acute attacks, there is tremendous shivering and high fever,’ she literally demonstrated it as she spoke, ‘for 3-4 days I cannot do anything.’ But even after her fever subsides the following 2 weeks she finds it extremely difficult to walk around. ‘It’s very painful,’ she explained.
But after CASA initiated work in this area, things began to look better. ‘I didn’t know that we have to take special care of our legs.’
‘How did CASA’s health workers ask you to take care of your foot?’ we asked her.
‘They showed me how to wash the legs with soap in cold water and then carefully dry it,’ she replied adding that she does this regularly.
‘And what about ointment?’ we questioned back.
‘Oh yes!’ she nodded her head saying, ‘I apply that too.’
Mahara said she used to have frequent acute attacks but for the last year or so she didn’t have a single acute attack ‘Yes I still have some pain in my legs and back sometimes,’ she admitted, ‘but after 2-3 days it goes away.’
This patient story was particularly encouraging to CASA because few patients report such remarkable success after starting home based care.