What does elephantiasis do?

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).

1. How does elephantiasis affect the body?
2. Can elephantiasis be cured?
3. What is the cause of elephantiasis?
4. What is elephantiasis responsible?
5. Is there a vaccine for elephantiasis?
6. Where do filarial worms live?
7. Can filaria cause blindness?
8. What should not eat in filaria?
9. What countries have elephantiasis?
10. Why is lymphatic filariasis important?
11. How is filariasis diagnosed?
12. Is elephantiasis reversible?
13. Is elephantiasis found in India?
14. How do you treat microfilaria?

How does elephantiasis affect the body?

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?

There are medicines to treat elephantiasis. Your doctor may give you one called diethylcarbamazine (DEC). You'll take it once a year. It will kill the microscopic worms in your bloodstream.

What is the cause of elephantiasis?

Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a painful and profoundly disfiguring disease. It is caused by infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filariodidea that are transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitos.

What is elephantiasis responsible?

Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease. Infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. Infection is usually acquired in childhood causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system.

Is there a vaccine for elephantiasis?

There is no vaccine and no treatment, only these drugs to prevent further transmission of the disease. Of all the people in the world in need of this preventative treatment, over 40% of them live in India.

Where do filarial worms live?

The adult worms only live in the human lymph system. The lymph system maintains the body's fluid balance and fights infections. 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.

Can filaria cause blindness?

People are infected with river blindness (also known as onchocerciasis) by repeated exposure to blackflies that breed in fast-flowing rivers. The flies transmit worms that can cause severe itching and disfiguring skin lesions, and repeated infection can lead to blindness.

What should not eat in filaria?

Light diet consisting of older jowar, wheat, horse gram, green gram, drum stick, bitter gourd, radish, garlic and older red rice is beneficial. Milk and products, fish, jaggery, sweets and contaminated water must be avoided.

What countries have elephantiasis?

Lymphatic filariasis remains endemic in 13 countries and areas in the Region: American Samoa, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Federated States of Micronesia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa and Tuvalu.

Why is lymphatic filariasis important?

Lymphatic filariasis is a leading cause of permanent disability worldwide. Communities frequently shun and reject women and men disfigured by the disease. Affected people frequently are unable to work because of their disability, and this harms their families and their communities.

How is filariasis diagnosed?

The standard method for diagnosing active infection is the identification of microfilariae in a blood smear by microscopic examination. The microfilariae that cause lymphatic filariasis circulate in the blood at night (called nocturnal periodicity).

Is elephantiasis reversible?

While early stages of lymphoedema are reversible, elephantiasis is life-long and causes permanent disability. Although the majority of infected people do not show outward symptoms of the disease, most of them will have early stages or mild forms of lymphatic damage.

Is elephantiasis found in India?

The clinical manifestations of LF may vary from one endemic area to another. Generally, the most common clinical form of the disease is hydrocele, with lymphoedema and elephantiasis occurs less commonly. In India and neighbouring countries, both hydrocele and lymphoedema are common.

How do you treat microfilaria?

Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) is the drug of choice in the United States. The drug kills the microfilariae and some of the adult worms.