Tuesday April 7, 2009


Q; 32 year old male - recently immigrated from Africa - presented with hypotension and left flank pain and "Milky Urine". What are treatment options beside resuscitation?



Answer: Chyluria (Milky Urine) is common in many parts of the world, where Wuchereria bancrofti, the main agent of filariasis, is endemic. It occurs, on average, 5–10 years after the worm has died, and so there may be no evidence of active filariasis.

Treatment includes therapeutic trial of diethylcarbamazine should be considered before undertaking surgery for lymphatic urinary fistula.



Reference:

1. Filarial chyluria: Long-term experience of a university hospital in India - International Journal of Urology, Volume 11 Issue 4, Pages 193 - 198, Published Online: 16 Mar 2004