D'Success Hospital & Maternity

Elephantiasis is also known as lymphatic filariasis. It’s caused
by parasitic worms, and can spread from person to person
through mosquitoes. Elephantiasis causes swelling of the
sc***um, legs, or breasts.
Elephantiasis is considered a neglected tropical disease
(NTD). It’s more common in tropical and subtropical areas of
the world, including Africa and Southeast Asia. It’s estimated
that 120 million people have elephantiasis.


The most common symptom of elephantiasis is swelling of
body parts. The swelling tends to happen in the:
legs
ge****ls
breasts
arms
The legs are the most commonly affected area. The swelling
and enlargement of body parts can lead to pain and mobility
issues.
The skin is also affected and may be:
dry
thick
ulcerated
darker than normal
pitted
Some people experience additional symptoms, such as fever
and chills.
Elephantiasis affects the immune system. People with this
condition are also at increased risk for a secondary infection.


Elephantiasis is caused by parasitic worms that are spread by mosquitoes. There are three types of worms involved:
Wuchereria bancrofti
Brugia malayi
Brugia timori
The worms affect the lymphatic system in the body. The lymphatic system is responsible for removing waste and
toxins. If It becomes blocked, then it doesn’t properly remove waste. This leads to a backup of lymphatic fluid, which causes swelling.

FACTORS
Elephantiasis can affect people at any age. It appears in both
women and men. It’s more common in tropical and
subtropical parts of the world , such as:
Africa
Southeast Asia
India
South America
Common risk factors for elephantiasis include:
living for a long time in tropical and subtropical areas
having a high exposure to mosquitoes
living in unsanitary conditions.


Your doctor will ask about your medical history and symptoms
and do a physical exam. You may also need blood tests to
help your doctor make a diagnosis. After taking a sample of
your blood, it’s sent to a lab where it’s examined for the
presence of the parasites.
You may have X-rays and ultrasounds to rule out the
possibility of other problems causing the same symptoms.

Rx
antiparasitic drugs, such as diethylcarbamazine (DEC),
mectizan, and albendazole (Albenza)
using good hygiene to clean the affected areas
elevating the affected areas
caring for wounds in the affected areas
exercising based on a doctor’s directions
surgery in extreme cases,