elephantiasis

Alternatively, elephantiasis may occur in the absence of parasitic infection. This nonparasitic form of elephantiasis, known as nonfilarial elephantiasis or podoconiosis, generally occurs in the mountains of central Africa. Elephantiasis partially takes its name from "the Elephant Man", the carnival stage name of Joseph Merrick. However, Merrick's deformity was not actually caused by elephantiasis, but by a completely different medical problem called Proteus Syndrome.

Lymphatic Filariasis

Lymphatic filariasis is by far the most common cause of elephantiasis. Organisms that cause lymphatic filariasis are Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori, all of which are nematodes (i.e., roundworms) transmitted by mosquitoes. Most patients with lymphatic filariasis are infected with W.

In patients with lymphatic filariasis, the parasite occupies lymph vessels that drain the lower extremities, producing massive enlargement and deformity of the legs and genitalia.

Lymphatic filariasis currently affects around 120 million people in 80 countries, and 40 million of these people have been seriously infected with the disease.

When lymphatic filariasis is caused by infection with Wuchereria bancrofti, it may be referred to as bancroftian filariasis. Infection with Brugia malayi results in a syndrome that is virtually identical, while Onchocerca volvulus causes many disorders in addition to elephantiasis.

Treatment

Medicines to treat lymphatic filariasis are most effective when used soon after infection, but they do have some toxic side effects. Several studies have shown that these daily cleaning routines can be an effective way to limit the symptoms of lymphatic filariasis. The effectiveness of these treatments suggests that many of the symptoms of elephantiasis are not directly a result of the lymphatic filariasis but rather the effect of secondary skin infections.

Also, surgical treatment may be helpful for issues related to scrotal elephantiasis and hydrocele.

Antibiotics as a possible treatment

In 2003 it was suggested that the common antibiotic doxycycline might be effective in treating elephantiasis. The parasites responsible for elephantiasis have a population of symbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia, that live inside the worm.

References and notes