Treatment for elephantiasis includes:
- antiparasitic drugs, such as diethylcarbamazine (DEC), mectizan, and albendazole (Albenza)
- using good hygiene to clean the affected areas
- elevating the affected areas
- caring for wounds in the affected areas
- exercising based on a doctor’s directions
- surgery in extreme cases, which may include reconstructive surgery for the affected areas or surgery to remove affected lymphatic tissue
What is the life expectancy of someone with elephantiasis?
Elephantiasis: Lethality from Lymphatic filariasis (one type of Elephantiasis) is low. But life expectancy due to this infection would be largely impacted by diseas ... Read More. Send thanks to the doctor. 90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.
What does doctor treat elephantiasis?
Treatment. Treatment of elephantiasis always involves treating the underlying condition. Lymphatic filariasis is a chronic lymphedema, which should be treated in the early stages with good compression therapy and garments to prevent elephantiasis. Other signs are treated with diethylcarbamazine. LGV is treated with doxycycline.
Is elephantiasis curable completely?
Is elephantiasis curable? Surgical methods to treat elephantiasis are currently being researched. However, elephantiasis is generally managed instead of treated. Management of elephantiasis includes wrapping of the infected limbs to prevent further swelling, and daily washing of the limb to prevent bacterial or fungal infection.
How can you prevent elephantiasis?
- Practice good hygiene, including frequent hand-washing and cleaning affected areas with soap and water to prevent infections.
- Elevate swollen body parts.
- Do light exercise where you move the affected area.
- Wrap the swollen area snugly with bandages to encourage the draining of fluids. ...
Is elephantiasis curable?
Lymphatic filariasis, also called elephantiasis tropica, is one of the world's leading causes of permanent and long-term disability. The disease can't be cured, although recent studies show tetracycline-based antibiotics could be helpful, particularly in the early stages.
What is the main 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 the best treatment for filariasis?
The main goal of treatment of an infected person is to kill the adult worm. Diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC), which is both microfilaricidal and active against the adult worm, is the drug of choice for lymphatic filariasis. The late phase of chronic disease is not affected by chemotherapy.
Can elephantiasis be treated with antibiotics?
A single course of one antibiotic can successfully treat elephantiasis (filariasis), a parasitic worm disease that is one of the most common causes of global disability, concludes a study published in this weeks issue of The Lancet.
Can elephantiasis be operated?
While lipedema can be treated by liposuction and lymphedema by decongestive lymphatic therapy, elephantiasis nostras may need debulking surgery.
How do you test for elephantiasis?
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).
How is Felaria treated?
Some studies have shown adult worm killing with treatment with doxycycline (200mg/day for 4–6 weeks). People with lymphedema and elephantiasis are unlikely to benefit from DEC treatment because most people with lymphedema are not actively infected with the filarial parasite.
Which doctor will treat filaria?
Which specialist should I consult for filariasis? You can consult a general physician or an infectious disease specialist.
Is there any permanent cure for filariasis?
There's no vaccine or cure for filariasis. Medication can kill many of the worms and keep you from spreading the infection to someone else. Treatment can also reduce filariasis symptoms.
What is elephantiasis look like?
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.
How is elephantiasis prevented?
Prevention may be possible by:avoiding mosquitoes or taking precautions to reduce your risk for mosquito bites.getting rid of mosquito breeding areas.using mosquito nets.wearing insect repellents.wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants in areas with a lot of mosquitoes.More items...
Can elephantiasis cause death?
Elephantiasis is a highly uncommon phenomenon in Western countries. A chronic erysipelas can cause non-filarial elephantiasis and if left untreated, can cause death.
What is elephantiasis caused by?
Symptoms. Diagnosis. Treatment. Living With Elephantiasis. Elephantiasis, also known as lymphatic filariasis, is a very rare condition that’s spread by mosquitoes. The common name is often used because if you have it, your arms and legs can swell and become much bigger than they should be.
How do you know if you have elephantiasis?
Symptoms. You may not know you have elephantiasis until you notice the swelling. Not only will those body parts begin to look bulky and lumpy with stiff, tough skin, there is also pain in the swollen area. You may also have chills, fever, and just feel bad all over.
Can elephantiasis cause anxiety?
It might even be hard to get around in your home. You might also worry about how your condition looks to other people. This can cause anxiety and depression. If you have elephantiasis and want information about support groups, ask your doctor. You can also go online to find resources that might help.
Why does elephantiasis happen?
This is often the result of secondary bacterial infections that happen because the body's lymphatic system is damaged and their immune system is suppressed due to the parasite. 4
What is the best medicine for African eye worms?
Albendazole, on its own in areas with loiasis (or African eye worm) Ivermectin, which is primarily used with albendazole in areas with onchocerciasis (or river blindness) Diethylcarbamazine citrate, often used with albendazole in areas without onchocerciasis.
What is lymphatic filariasis?
Treatment. Coping. Lymphatic filariasis, commonly referred to as elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease caused by tiny parasitic worms spread by mosquitos. While most people don't have any symptoms, the infection can cause painful swelling, particularly in the limbs, that can lead to permanent disability.
What can kill worms?
Medications. Several medications can be taken to kill the parasite's microfilariae and some (though likely not all) adult worms. Side effects of the drugs can sometimes be worse if an individual has co-infections with other diseases, so different regions are recommended to receive different treatment combinations.
Can lymphatic filariasis be passed on to others?
Those infected with the microscopic worms likely aren't aware that they are infected, but they can still pass on the parasite to others. When symptoms do occur (often years later), they can lead to extensive disfigurement and disability.
Treatment
General treatment measures include bed rest, elevation of affected limbs and wrapping the limbs in compression bandages. This helps to bring down the swelling. If there are signs of infection, generally the next measure is taking care of the skin on the foot and leg to prevent any infection that may worsen the swelling.
Dr. Ananya Mandal
Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.
What is elephantiasis caused by?
Prevention. Takeaway. Elephantiasis is a tropical disease caused by parasitic worms that are spread through mosquito bites. The skin gets thick and hard, resembling an elephant’s skin. Although medically known as lymphatic filariasis, the term elephantiasis is commonly used because symptoms include swelling and enlargement of the arms and legs.
Why do people with elephantiasis have impaired immune function?
People with elephantiasis will have impaired immune function because of damage to their lymph system. They tend to get more bacterial infections of the skin, causing it to become dry, thick, and ulcerated with repeated infections.
How to prevent swelling of limbs?
disinfecting wounds to prevent secondary infections. exercising regularly to support the lymphatic system, as directed by a doctor. wrapping the limbs to prevent further swelling , as instructed by a doctor.
Is elephantiasis a mosquito?
Elephantiasis is a tropical disease spread through mosquito bites. People living in affected tropical or subtropical areas are most at risk of infection. However, short-term visitors to these regions have a very low risk#N#Trusted Source#N#of getting elephantiasis or related conditions, according to the CDC.
Do you need antibiotics for elephantiasis?
antibiotics. Not everyone with elephantiasis will need medication. This is because they may no longer carry the worms in their system despite the presence of symptoms. People can manage the swelling and skin infections in these cases by: gently washing the swollen and damaged skin every day with soap and water. moisturizing the skin.
Can elephantiasis be caused by mosquitoes?
Elephantiasis can affect anyone who is exposed to the parasites that cause the disease . The risk of exposure is greatest for people who: live long-term in tropical and subtropical regions. are regularly bitten by mosquitoes. live in unhygienic conditions.
How to treat elephantiasis?
Lymphatic filariasis is a chronic lymphedema, which should be treated in the early stages with good compression therapy and garments to prevent elephantiasis. Other signs are treated with diethylcarbamazine. LGV is treated with doxycycline. Donovanosis may be treated with azithromycin.
What is the disorder of elephantiasis?
Elephantiasis is also associated with a disorder known as podoconiosis. Podoconiosis, sometimes referred to as nonfilarial elephantiasis, is a disorder caused by the absorption of minute mineral particles from the soil through the feet of barefoot individuals.
What causes elephantiasis in the human body?
Genital elephantiasis can also be caused by bacterial sexually transmitted diseases, specifically lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) and donovanosis.
Where is elephantiasis found?
Elephantiasis is present worldwide, but with greater frequency in poor third world regions, including Southeast Asia, India, Africa and South America , and not only as a manifestation of lymphatic filariasis.
Does elephantiasis affect the penis?
Elephantiasis may also affect the male and female external genital organs. In a male, there may be enlargement of the scrotum, and the penis may be retracted under skin which has become thickened, nonelastic, hot and painful. The spermatic cords may thicken.
How to treat elephantiasis?
Apart from the conventional anti parasitic medicines, there are other alternative ways to treat elephantiasis. These include homeopathic remedy and home remedy. Homeopathic treatment can help to reduce the frequency of Filariasis infection to certain extent.
How to treat parasitic disease?
Apart from this, regular treatments and care for this parasitic disease include maintaining a good hygiene to clean the affected areas, exercising according to the doctor’s directions and indications, washing and drying the swollen areas on a daily basis, keeping the affected areas elevated.
Do you need antiparasitic drugs for elephantiasis?
In such cases, people first need to find the root cause and then undergo the appropriate treatment. People with symptoms similar to elephantiasis, although not caused by filaris mosquito, do not need to take antiparasitic drugs.
Can elephantiasis be treated with blood tests?
People with symptoms of muscle thickening and stiffening along with chills and fever must consult a doctor and get the necessary physical tests done. When the presence of parasite filaris in the blood is affirmed by blood tests, the patients become eligible for the treatment of elephantiasis.
Elephantiasis: The most severe form of lymphoedema
Elephantiasis – the most severe form of lymphoedema – is a chronic condition. It is caused by an obstruction in the lymphatic vessel system and the resulting congestion of lymph fluid. Consistent therapy can keep the disease under control and reduce symptoms.
Causes of Elephantiasis: congenital or acquired?
Elephantiasis has nothing to do with being overweight – it is caused by lymph congestion. If a disease of the lymphatic vessel system occurs, the removal of the lymph fluid is no longer sufficiently guaranteed. The lymph vessel system disorder can be congenital (primary lymphoedema) or acquired (secondary lymphoedema).
Symptoms and signs: how to recognise elephantiasis
If lymphoedema is not treated at all or insufficiently treated, the lymphoedema causes massive swelling of the affected body regions, usually the arms or legs, over time. Elephantiasis is with a thickening of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Blood proteins that remain in the tissue cause massive tissue proliferation.
How lymph patients can prevent elephantiasis
With lymphoedema, consistent therapy is important right from the start. The individual therapy components, their frequency and intensity are agreed upon in consultation with the doctor and therapist.
Elephantiasis: treatment options
Therapy remains the same even in the most severe stage of lymphoedema: the proven method of treatment for elephantiasis is complex decongestive therapy (CDT). This consists among other things of manual lymph drainage, compression therapy and skin care. In addition, surgery can now be used to improve lymph drainage.
Which doctors treat elephantiasis?
As with lymphoedema depending on the cause and course of the disease, you should consult your GP, a specialist in lymphatic diseases, dermatologist or oncologist.
medi products for elephantiasis
Find out more information about medical compression stockings for elephantiasis therapy here.
What is the best treatment for LF?
In settings where onchoceriasis is present, Ivermectin is the drug of choice to treat LF. Some studies have shown adult worm killing with treatment with doxycycline (200mg/day for 4–6 weeks).
What is the drug that kills worms?
Patients currently infected with the parasite. Diethylcarbamazine ( DEC) is the drug of choice in the United States. The drug kills the microfilariae and some of the adult worms. DEC has been used world-wide for more than 50 years. Because this infection is rare in the U.S., the drug is no longer approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ...
