Elephantiasis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment (1)

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Elephantiasis
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Elephantiasis

• Elephantiasis is the general term used for the
  disease which causes extreme swelling in the arms
  and legs. The tissues of the Lymph system become
  thick and inflamed. This disease also goes by the
  name Lymphatic Filariasis or Elephantitis. There
  is also another type Elephantiasis, known as
  Non-Filarial Elephantitis. This disease almost
  affects the people of all age groups and is
  common in tropical regions of India. This disease
  is caused by different types of worms which get
  transmitted into the human body.

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Causes of Elephantiasis

• The Elephantiasis Syndrome is caused by an
  infection of a nematode parasite called the
  filarial worm. The parasite gets transmitted into
  the human body by female mosquitoes, parasite
  then grows into an adult worm leading to
  Elephantiasis.
• Wuchereria bancrofti, Burgia malayi, symbiotic
  walbachia bacteria and burgia timori are the
  parasites which get transmitted through mosquito
  in lymph system causing Elephantiasis. These
  parasites feed on human blood.
• This disease may also be caused due to
  accumulation of fluids in the body, causing
  swelling in the body parts. This condition is
  known as Edema.

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Symptoms

• In most of the cases, there are no symptoms of
  this infection. Larva of the worm, reproduce and
  spread into bloodstream, where it can live for
  years. The major symptom of Elephantiasis is
  excessive swelling in a body part due to the
  amassing of fluid. Some common symptoms of acute
  and chronic infectionare
• Thickness of skin
• Fever
• Skin Ulceration
• Paining Testicles
• Enlarged Lymph Nodes
• Swelling in the Liver
• Pain above testicles
• White urine discharge

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Treatments

• The treatment of elephantiasis includes
  medication and surgery. However, no vaccine has
  been developed to treat this disease.
• The Diethylcarbamazine otherwise known as DEC is
  the main medication used to treat this drug. This
  medicine kills the small as well as adult worms
  present in the lymph system. But this medicine is
  not a permanent cure for this disease as filaries
  grow again after some time.
• However, this medicine is only effective in the
  initial stages of infection, lymphatic
  surgery can also be done on the recommendation of
  a doctor.

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Preventing Elephantiasis

• These are some of the preventive measures that
  can be taken to protect you from transmission of
  parasite infection. 
• Regularly wash your hand with soap and water.
• Apply mosquito repellent.
• Apply antibacterial and anti-fungal cream on the
  wound.
• Maintain proper hygiene conditions around you.
• Workout to make your lymphatic system strong.
• Washing fruits and vegetables before consuming.

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Complications of Elephantiasis

• If Elephantiasis is not treated early, it can
  lead to dangerous complications later on.
  Elephantiasis gets transmitted to other parts of
  the body, resulting in unbearable pain. Long
  term Elephantiasis causes the growth of
  tumour, impotency, and failure of the kidneys.

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