Filariasis as an Incidental Finding in Pregnancy.

THE IMPORTANCE of considering diseases, unknown or uncommon in this country, has received much attention recently owing to the increase in foreign travel and increased immigration. In particular, patients have been investigated for abnormal haemoglobins and alimentary parasites. Filariasis has received scant attention. Immigrants from Africa, India and the Far East may be infested by the nematode worms which give rise to the various forms of filariasis. At the time of leaving their native country patients may have few or no symptoms and as they move away from the insect vectors of the disease, spread in our community does not occur. Recently on routine blood examination two otherwise unsuspected cases of filariasis have come to our notice (Shaw and Pegrum, 1963).