Health education in India. A poster showing a woman with filariasis and the words: The swiftness of yore is just a memory now. This disease will slow you down in all walks of life. Eradicate filariasis and save future generations." Filariasis describes a group of tropical diseases caused by various parasitic worms or their larvae, which are transmitted to man by insect bites. Some species of worm cause inflammation of the lymph vessels which can result in elephantiasis (enlargement of the affected area with thickening & cracking of the skin). Health education & blood screening help to prevent spread of the disease."