What is Elephantiasis

Elephantiasis, also called lymphatic filariasis is a rare parasitic disease that spread to human through mosquito bite
If a mosquito contains a specific parasite called roundworm in its body, this roundworm transfers to human during mosquito bite,
where it matures and begins damaging the lymphatic system. In this way, lymph nodes of the lymphatic system swell and result in severe pain in the affected area. Let’s know how elephantiasis disease is developed. Few roundworms complete their lifecycle in human and mosquitoes. However, because roundworms complete their larval stage in mosquitoes, they cannot infect mosquitoes. In contrast, when roundworms transfer to human through mosquito bite they migrate to lymphatic system from blood and grow there into an adult stage. Because lymph nodes in the lymphatic system filter by destroying wastes and toxins including germs from our body. That’s why if an adult roundworm multiplies in our lymph nodes and block them, lymph nodes can no longer remove wastes from body and wastes begin to accumulate in the lymph nodes and cause inflammation,
leading to swelling of the lymph nodes so that lymph nodes swell enough to physically appear on the body. This condition is called elephantiasis.

Symptoms of Elephantiasis

Roundworms commonly affect lymph nodes in our arms, legs and genitals, which results in swelling of these sites that cause pain. In some cases, roundworms form microfilariae in initial stage of their lifecycle and these microfilariae accumulate in the lungs. As a result, inflammation start in the lungs that causes coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Diagnoses and Treatment of Elephantiasis

Blood and serum tests are performed to diagnose elephantiasis
which include detection of microfilariae and antibodies against them in the blood. To treat elephantiasis, supportive therapy such as good hygiene, wound care and physiotherapy exercises are advised. While some anti-parasitic drugs such as diethylcarbamazine, mestiza and albendazole are used to kill microfilariae in the blood.

There is accumulation of fluid in the lymph in the limb gradually swells up so. What is the best treatment for it in the beginning usually they are treated with conservative measures like manual
lymphatic drainage physiotherapy and compression garment and lymphatic pumps some people settle with this but when the lymph accumulates further or the limb swells up further in spite of the
conservative management then surgical modality will be obtained there are few novel methods which can give a permanent cure to these problems they are lymphatic or venous anastomosis called as lva in which the lymphatics and the veins are joined by super microsurgery and the other procedure is vascularized
lymph node transfer where the lymph nodes are taken from the another area healthy lymph nodes are taken and placed in the area where the limb is affected so that the lymph sizes reduces these are novel methods so that the patient can have a permanent cure and along with it the excess welding of the limb will also be removed for that the patient will have a normal ambulation because otherwise this patient becomes grossly swelling and they actually would have.

Conclusion

Also heard that them elephantiac because their limb becomes like an elephant link so happy news is a permanent cure for this elephantiasis is available and try it