MAGNITUDE OF DISEASE

Filariasis has long been a significant public health challenge in India, second only to malaria. The disease was first documented as early as the 6th century B.C. by the renowned Indian physician Susruta in his classical text Susruta Samhita. In the 7th century A.D., Madhavakara described the signs and symptoms of filariasis in his treatise Madhava Nidhana, which remain relevant even today. In 1709, Clarke referred to cases of elephantoid legs in Cochin as "Malabar legs."

The discovery of microfilariae (Mf) in peripheral blood was first made by Lewis in 1872 in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Currently, indigenous cases have been reported from approximately 348 districts across 20 States and Union Territories. As of 2025, India has recorded around 6.2 lakh cases of lymphedema and 1.21 lakh cases of hydrocele.