Infrared Thermal Imaging as a Novel Non-Invasive Point-Of-Care Tool to Assess Filarial Lymphoedema

Lymphatic filariasis causes disfiguring and disabling lymphoedema, which is commonly frequently exacerbated by acute dermatolymphangioadenitis (ADLA). Affected people require long-term care monitoring but health workers lack objective assessment tools. We examine the use of an infrared thermal imaging camera as a novel non-invasive point-of-care tool for filarial lower-limb lymphoedema in 153 affected adults from highly endemic area Bangladesh. Temperature differences stage (mild, moderate, severe) ADLA history were visualised quantified using descriptive statistics regression models. Temperatures found to increase severity captured subclinical between no mild moderate severe stages. Toes ankle temperatures detected significant all stages other than Significantly higher temperatures, best heel calf measures, participants with ADLA, compared who never had regardless stage. This has great potential be used detect cases, predict progression disease status, monitor pathological tissue changes following enhanced packages or interventions lymphoedema.