{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,29]],"date-time":"2026-04-29T02:24:57Z","timestamp":1777429497397,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2008,3,26]],"date-time":"2008-03-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1206489600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Asia Pac J Public Health"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2008,4]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>This cross-sectional, descriptive study describes the treatment-seeking behavior of 413 lymphoedema patients attending 2 filariasis clinics in the Colombo district, Sri Lanka. A pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire obtained information regarding sources and types of treatment taken, time taken for diagnosis, and details regarding diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) treatment. There was a mean delay of 2.37 years (SD 1.37) in diagnosing filariasis after the first appearance of limb swelling. General practitioners were the most frequent first-contact health care providers and the most visited source overall, followed by government hospitals and Ayurvedic practitioners. Approximately 95% of patients were on DEC treatment ranging from 10 days to 43 years (mean 2.5 years SD \u00b1 1.1). Sixty-one percent of patients reported always having taken the recommended DEC course. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diuretics, and antibiotics were liberally prescribed. Approximately 97% had sought treatment from a medical practitioner for an acute adenolymphangitis attack. Despite the area being endemic for filariasis, there was a delay in treatment and inappropriate use of DEC in patients with chronic filarial lymphoedema.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/1010539507311257","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2011,6,28]],"date-time":"2011-06-28T15:37:49Z","timestamp":1309275469000},"page":"129-138","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Treatment-Seeking Behavior and Treatment Practices of Lymphatic Filariasis Patients With Lymphoedema in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"20","author":[{"given":"Rushika Shalindri","family":"Wijesinghe","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Parasitology, University of Sri Jayawardenepura,"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ananda Rajitha","family":"Wickremasinghe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,\rUniversity of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sriyani","family":"Ekanayake","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Parasitology, University of Sri Jayawardenepura"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Marian Shanthy","family":"Antoinette Perera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Family Medicine Faculty of Medical Sciences,\rUniversity of Sri Jayawardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2008,3,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"atypb1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11908-002-0069-0"},{"key":"atypb2","unstructured":"World Health Organization (WHO). 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