Enlargement of an area of the body due to obstruction within the lymphatic system and the resulting accumulation of lymph
Symptoms of Elephantiasis
The following features are indicative of Elephantiasis:
swelling of the arms, legs, or genitals
It is possible that Elephantiasis shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Elephantiasis
The following are the most common causes of Elephantiasis:
parasitic worms
Risk Factors for Elephantiasis
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Elephantiasis:
living for a long time in tropical and subtropical area
having a high exposure to mosquitoes
living in unsanitary conditions
Prevention of Elephantiasis
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Elephantiasis. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
using insecticide-treated mosquito bed nets
wear long sleeves and trousers
use mosquito repellent on exposed skin
Occurrence of Elephantiasis
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Elephantiasis cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Elephantiasis can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Elephantiasis can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Elephantiasis
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Elephantiasis:
Blood test: To detect the level of anti filarial IgG4 in the blood
Doctor for Diagnosis of Elephantiasis
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Elephantiasis:
Infectious Disease Specialist
Surgeon
Complications of Elephantiasis if untreated
Yes, Elephantiasis causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Elephantiasis is left untreated:
blood vessels obstruction
gangrene formation
Procedures for Treatment of Elephantiasis
The following procedures are used to treat Elephantiasis:
Surgery: To correct elephantiasis
Self-care for Elephantiasis
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Elephantiasis:
Compression garments: Wear stockings or long sleeves to compress the arm or leg
Using mosquito nets: To reduce the risk for mosquito bites
Use mosquito repellent on exposed skin: To reduce the risk for mosquito bites
Is Elephantiasis Infectious?
Yes, Elephantiasis is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
infection spreads from person to person by mosquito bites