A nonendemic visitor to an area with microfilaria may develop an allergic lymphangitis following exposure, but only rarely will he develop a "productive" infection with circulating microfilaria. This response is different from that seen in a long term resident with numerous exposures.
Mumu is a Samoan term used to describe the genital involvement in American soldiers stationed there during World War II.
The patient develops erythema, pruritis and painful swelling in the affected area. Fever, chills and rigor (acute filarial fever) is unusual.
Genital involvement may include:
(1) spermatic cord (vas deferens)
(2) scrotum
(3) epididymis
(4) testis
Some patients develop a hydrocele.
The exposed person may also develop swelling in arms and/or legs.
Biopsy shows an allergic and granulomatous host response to the adult worm.
For American servicemen, only 33% of those at risk developed symptomatic disease and of these only 0.2% produced microfilaria.
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