What causes elephantiasis?

What causes elephantiasis?

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 scrotum, legs, or breasts. Elephantiasis is considered a neglected tropical disease (NTD).

Can elephantiasis cause death?

Without proper treatment, lymphedema can lead to infection, amputation or even death. If the cause of your elephantiasis is parasitic, you need to be on medication to eradicate the infection.

How many people does elephantiasis affect?

Lymphatic filariasis affects over 120 million people in 72 countries throughout the tropics and sub-tropics of Asia, Africa, the Western Pacific, and parts of the Caribbean and South America. Whereas the disease was once thought to affect only adults, it now appears that most infections are acquired in childhood.

Who is most at risk for elephantiasis?

People living for a long time in tropical or sub-tropical areas where the disease is common are at the greatest risk for infection. Short-term tourists have a very low risk. Programs to eliminate lymphatic filariasis are under way in more than 66 countries.

How do you get elephantiasis?

Usually, to get elephantiasis, you would have to be bitten by a lot of mosquitoes over a long time, in a country where certain types of roundworms are known to exist. It starts when mosquitoes infected with the roundworm larvae bite you. The tiny larvae survive in your bloodstream and grow.

Can elephantiasis be cured completely?

Lymphatic filariasis can be eliminated by stopping the spread of infection through preventive chemotherapy with safe medicine combinations repeated annually. More than 7.7 billion treatments have been delivered to stop the spread of infection since 2000.

What does elephantiasis look like?

The main symptom of elephantiasis is gross enlargement and swelling of an area of the body because of the accumulation of fluid. The arms and legs are the areas most often affected. An entire arm or leg may swell to several times its normal size resembling the thick, round appearance of an elephant’s leg.

Can elephantiasis be cured?

What are the effects of elephantiasis on the body?

The swelling and enlargement of body parts can lead to pain and mobility issues. The skin is also affected and may be: 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. What causes elephantiasis?

Where is elephantiasis most common in the world?

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. What are the symptoms of elephantiasis? The most common symptom of elephantiasis is swelling of body parts. The swelling tends to happen in the:

What kind of disease does a man with elephantitis have?

Elephantitis penis is also another kind of disease that a man with elephantitis suffers from. Besides these forms of genital elephantiasis; elephantitis head, elephantitis trunk, elephantitis face and groin, elephantitis nose or elephantiasis nostra verucossa, elephantitis hands, and elephantitis feet are common to both the sexes.

Where does elephantiasis cause swelling of the scrotum?

Elephantiasis causes swelling of the scrotum, 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

What does elephantiasis usually do to a person?

People with elephantiasis will have impaired immune function because of damage to their lymph system. They tend to get more bacterial infections of the skin, causing it to become dry, thick, and ulcerated with repeated infections. Other symptoms during these repeated bacterial infections include a fever and chills.

Is there any cure of elephantiasis?

Elephantiasis Home Remedies or Home Treatment Carefully wash the puffy part with soap and clean water regularly Maintain yourself germ-free problems Use Body lotion and Creams that are specially made to protect from mosquito bites. Elevate and working out the puffy hand or leg to enhance the lymph movement.

What are facts about elephantiasis?

• especially the limbs.
• Symptoms.
• Causes.
• Affected Populations.
• Diagnosis
• Standard Therapies.
• Investigational Therapies.
• Resources.
• Supporting Organizations.
• References.

  How does elephantiasis start?

  Elephantiasis begins to develop when a worm gets into a person’s body and causes damage to the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a completely separate system that runs alongside the circulatory system, and aids in the removal of excess fluid from the body’s tissues.