Elephantiasis
Many may not see cases of elephantiasis ever in their lives, but the disease is common in tropical countries. This disease is found in South America, Central Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean. Around 120 million people are affects each year. Elephantiasis is an abnormal enlargement of any part of the human body. The two main types of elephantiasis are lymphatic filariasis and non-filarial elephantiasis. The disease disfigures and disables the arms, legs, or genitals. The body swells so much that it can look like an elephant’s foreleg in size, hence the name. The most common growth of elephantiasis is in the genital area and lower limbs. These are due to a parasitic infection transmitted by a mosquito. This is a form of lymphatic filariasis, which is the most common form of elephantiasis. The lymphatic system in a human’s body is a network of channels, organs, and lymph nodes that help maintain proper fluid levels in the body. The system drains lymph from tissues into the bloodstream. If blocked, it causes fluids to collect in the tissues causing swelling. Filarial worms found in tropical places transmitted by mosquitoes to humans are the most common causes of elephantiasis. The parasite dwells in the lymph glands. (Lymph glands lie under a person’s skin.) This condition can be treated by surgical methods and regular cleaning techniques. However, most surgeries are not successful.
Non-filarial elephantiasis is not caused by filarial infections. It is thought to be caused by constant skin contact with volcanic ash. Also known as podoconiosis, non-filarial elephantiasis is treatable but very difficult. This is a very rare condition and is mostly found in areas where there have been volcanoes in the past.
To diagnose elephantiasis in its early stages is hard because swelling is minimal. It is easier to diagnose this condition while it advances. Main places of swelling are observed in the legs and groin, but can also be seen in the hand, breast, trunk, arms, and other parts of the body. Edema is caused because of accumulation of fluids in the body when someone has elephantiasis. Some other symptoms of elephantiasis: skin hardens, lymph glands below the skin swell up causing the body to enlarge in grotesque proportions, the skin undergoes hyper-pigmentation (making skin appear darkened), ulcers are seen on the skin, constant fevers and chills, and the person feels a constant sense of discomfort.
Usually to treat elephantiasis, the drug choice is diethylcarbamazine (DEC), also known as Hetrazan. DEC injures or kills the adult worm. It usually takes