elephantiasis

enUK

elephantiasis

(ĕl`əfăntī`əsĭs), abnormal enlargement of any part of the body due to obstruction of the lymphatic channels in the area (see lymphatic systemlymphatic system
, network of vessels carrying lymph, or tissue-cleansing fluid, from the tissues into the veins of the circulatory system. The lymphatic system functions along with the circulatory system in absorbing nutrients from the small intestines.
..... Click the link for more information. ), usually affecting the arms, legs, or external genitals. In tropical countries the most common cause is filariasis, infestation with certain filaria, small parasitic roundworms (see wormworm,
common name for various unrelated invertebrate animals with soft, often long and slender bodies. Members of the phylum Platyhelminthes, or the flatworms, are the most primitive; they are generally small and flat-bodied and include the free-living planarians (of the class
..... Click the link for more information. ) of the genera Wuchereria bancrofti or Brugia malayi that are introduced into the body by many species of mosquitoes. The adult worms live in the lymphatic system, causing local inflammation, fibrosis, and obstruction, and resulting in the characteristic enlargement and thickening of the skin. The initial damage done by the worms can be greatly worsened by secondary bacterial and fungal infections.

Recovery from filariasis is possible and surgery sometimes helps, but any elephantiasis that develops during the disease cannot be cured. Ivermectin, an antifilarial drug, has been effective with a single dose. Diethylcarbamazine often kills the adult worms or impairs their reproductive capabilities, and the antibiotic doxycycline, which works by killing symbiotic bacteria that live inside the worms, also eliminates adult worms. Albendazole, in combination with others drugs, is being used in a program of mass drug administration undertaken under the auspices of the World Health Organization in an attempt to eliminate filariasis. Begun in 1999 the program treats an entire population in an attempt to eradicate the worm. Control of mosquitoes also is instrumental in holding down the incidence of the disease. Careful hygiene and other measures that prevent and control subsequent bacterial and fungal infections in limbs or genitals in which the lymphatic system has been damaged can reduce disfigurement and suffering. Blocking of the lymph channels and elephantiasis can also result from lymphogranuloma venereum, a sexually transmitted diseasesexually transmitted disease
(STD) or venereal disease,
term for infections acquired mainly through sexual contact. Five diseases were traditionally known as venereal diseases: gonorrhea, syphilis, and the less common granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, and
..... Click the link for more information. , and from podoconiosis, an abnormal inflammatory response to recurring barefoot exposure to irritant mineral particles in certain volcanic soils.

Elephantiasis

a disease of man and some animal species, manifested by a progessive thickening of the skin and subcutaneous tissue resulting from chronic lymphatic obstruction and lymphatic edema. Elephantiasis is caused by a congenital, hereditary, or acquired insufficiency of the lymphatics, with accompanying impairment of lymph dynamics—the absorption of lymph through the lymph capillaries and the flow of lymph through the lymphatic system.

In man, elephantiasis affects mainly the lower extremities. The disease’s onset is marked by slight, painless edema of the foot or ankle joint that disappears when the extremity is elevated. The edema gradually spreads upward, persisting and becoming firmer to the touch if the patient remains confined in bed over a lengthy period. The leg becomes deformed, resembling that of an elephant. Except for a sensation of heaviness in the leg, pain is generally absent. Elephantiasis must be distinguished from edemas and thickenings of the lower extremities arising from such disorders as chronic venous insufficiency, obesity, endocrine disturbances, and tumors.

Treatment at the onset of the disease is conservative: elastic stockings or bandages are worn, regular massage is administered, and the extremity is kept elevated. Surgical treatment of advanced elephantiasis is effective in 85 percent of the cases.

Elephantiasis occurs in horses and some breeds of swine. The inflammatory process that caused the disease is treated.

REFERENCE

Gorshkov, S. Z., and G. G. Karavanov. Slonovost’. Moscow, 1972.

S. Z. GORSHKOV

elephantiasis

[‚el·ə·fan′tī·ə·səs] (medicine) A parasitic disease of humans caused by the filarial nematode Wuchereria bancrofti; characterized by cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue enlargement due to lymphatic obstruction.

elephantiasis

Pathol a complication of chronic filariasis, in which nematode worms block the lymphatic vessels, usually in the legs or scrotum, causing extreme enlargement of the affected area

elephantiasis

enUK

Elephantiasis

Definition

The word elephantiasis is a vivid and accurate term for the syndrome it describes: the gross (visible) enlargement of the arms, legs, or genitals to elephantoid size.

Description

True elephantiasis is the result of a parasitic infection caused by three specific kinds of round worms. The long, threadlike worms block the body's lymphatic system—a network of channels, lymph nodes, and organs that helps maintain proper fluid levels in the body by draining lymph from tissues into the bloodstream. This blockage causes fluids to collect in the tissues, which can lead to great swelling, called "lymphedema." Limbs can swell so enormously that they resemble an elephant's foreleg in size, texture, and color. This is the severely disfiguring and disabling condition of elephantiasis.There are a few different causes of elephantiasis, but the agents responsible for most of the elephantiasis in the world are filarial worms: white, slender round worms found in most tropical and subtropical places. They are transmitted by particular kinds (species) of mosquitoes, that is, bloodsucking insects. Infection with these worms is called "lymphatic filariasis" and over a long period of time can cause elephantiasis.Lymphatic filariasis is a disease of underdeveloped regions found in South America, Central Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean. It is a disease that has been present for centuries, as ancient Persian and Indian writings clearly described elephant-like swellings of the arms, legs, and genitals. It is estimated that 120 million people in the world have lymphatic filariasis. The disease appears to be spreading, in spite of decades of research in this area.Other terms for elephantiasis are Barbados leg, elephant leg, morbus herculeus, mal de Cayenne, and myelolymphangioma.Other situations that can lead to elephantiasis are:

a protozoan disease called leishmaniasis
a repeated streptococcal infection
the surgical removal of lymph nodes (usually to prevent the spread of cancer)
a hereditary birth defect

Causes and symptoms

Three kinds of round worms cause elephantiasis filariasis: Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori. Of these three, W. bancrofti makes up about 90% of the cases. Man is the only known host of W. bancrofti.Culex, Aedes, and Anopheles mosquitoes are the carriers of W. bancrofti. Anopheles and Mansonia mosquitoes are the carriers of B. malayi. In addition, Anopheles mosquitoes are the carriers of B. timori.Infected female mosquitoes take a blood meal from a human, and in doing so, introduce larval forms of the particular parasite they carry to the person. These larvae migrate toward a lymphatic channel, then travel to various places within the lymphatic system, usually positioning themselves in or near lymph nodes throughout the body. During this time, they mature into more developed larvae and eventually into adult worms. Depending upon the species of round worm, this development can take a few months or more than a year. The adult worms grow to about 1 in (2.5 cm) to 4 in (10 cm) long.The adult worms can live from about three to eight years. Some have been known to live to 20 years, and in one case 40 years. The adult worms begin reproducing numerous live embryos, called microfilariae. The microfilariae travel to the bloodstream, where they can be ingested by a mosquito when it takes a blood meal from the infected person. If they are not ingested by a mosquito, the microfilariae die within about 12 months. If they are ingested by a mosquito, they continue to mature. They are totally dependent on their specific species of mosquito to develop further. The cycle continues when the mosquito takes another blood meal.Most of the symptoms an infected person experiences are due to the blockage of the lymphatic system by the adult worms and due to the substances (excretions and secretions) produced by the worms.The body's allergic reactions may include repeated episodes of fever, shaking chills, sweating, headaches, vomiting, and pain. Enlarged lymph nodes, swelling of the affected area, skin ulcers, bone and joint pain, tiredness, and red streaks along the arm or leg also may occur. Abscesses can form in lymph nodes or in the lymphatic vessels. They may appear at the surface of the skin as well.Long-term infection with lymphatic filariasis can lead to lymphedema, hydrocele (a buildup of fluid in any saclike cavity or duct) in the scrotum, and elephantiasis of the legs, scrotum, arms, penis, breasts, and vulvae. The most common site of elephantiasis is the leg. It typically begins in the ankle and progresses to the foot and leg. At first the swollen leg may feel soft to the touch but eventually becomes hard and thick. The skin may appear darkened or warty and may even crack, allowing bacteria to infect the leg and complicate the disease. The microfilariae usually don't cause injury. In some instances, they cause "eosinophilia," an increased number of eosinophils (a type of white blood cells) in the blood.This disease is more intense in people who never have been exposed to lymphatic filariasis than it is in the native people of tropical areas where the disease occurs. This is because many of the native people often are immunologically tolerant.

Diagnosis

The only sure way to diagnose lymphatic filariasis is by detecting the parasite itself, either the adult worms or the microfilariae.Microscopic examination of the person's blood may reveal microfilariae. But many times, people who have been infected for a long time do not have microfilariae in their bloodstream. The absence of them, therefore, does not mean necessarily that the person is not infected. In these cases, examining the urine or hydrocele fluid or performing other clinical tests is necessary.Collecting blood from the individual for microscopic examination should be done during the night when the microfilariae are more numerous in the bloodstream. (Interestingly, this is when mosquitoes bite most frequently.) During the day microfilariae migrate to deeper blood vessels in the body, especially in the lung. If it is decided to perform the blood test during the day, the infected individual may be given a "provocative" dose of medication to provoke the microfilariae to enter the bloodstream. Blood then can be collected an hour later for examination.Detecting the adult worms can be difficult because they are deep within the lymphatic system and difficult to get to. Biopsies usually are not performed because they usually don't reveal much information.

Treatment

The drug of choice in treating lymphatic filariasis is diethylcarbamazine (DEC). The trade name in the United States is Hetrazan.The treatment schedule is typically 2 mg/kg per day, three times a day, for three weeks. The drug is taken in tablet form.DEC kills the microfilariae quickly and injures or kills the adult worms slowly, if at all. If all the adult worms are not killed, remaining paired males and females may continue to produce more larvae. Therefore, several courses of DEC treatment over a long time period may be necessary to rid the individual of the parasites.DEC has been shown to reduce the size of enlarged lymph nodes and, when taken long-term, to reduce elephantiasis. In India, DEC has been given in the form of a medicated salt, which helps prevent spread of the disease.The side effects of DEC almost all are due to the body's natural allergic reactions to the dying parasites rather than to the DEC itself. For this reason, DEC must be given carefully to reduce the danger to the individual. Side effects may include fever, chills, headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, itching, and joint pain. These side effects usually occur within the first few days of treatment. These side effects usually subside as the individual continues taking the drug.There is an alternate treatment plan for the use of DEC. This plan is designed to kill the parasites slowly (to reduce allergic reactions to the dead microfilariae and dying adult worms within the body). Lower doses of DEC are taken for the first few days, followed by the higher dose of 2 mg/kg per day for the remaining three weeks. In addition, steroids may be prescribed to prevent the individual's body from reacting severely to the dead worms.Another drug used is Ivermectin. Early research studies of Ivermectin show that it is excellent in killing microfilariae, but the effects of this drug on the adult worms are still being investigated. It is probable that patients will need to continue using DEC to kill the adult worms. Mild side effects of Ivermectin include headache, fever, and myalgia.Other means of managing lymphatic filariasis are pressure bandages to wrap the swollen limb and elastic stockings to help reduce the pressure. Exercising and elevating a bandaged limb also can help reduce its size.Surgery can be performed to reduce elephantiasis by removing excess fatty and fibrous tissue, draining the swelled area, and removing the dead worms.

Prognosis

With DEC treatment, the prognosis is good for early and mild cases of lymphatic filariasis. The prognosis is poor, however, for heavy parasitic infestations.

Prevention

The two main ways to control this disease are to take DEC preventively, which has shown to be effective, and to reduce the number of carrier insects in a particular area.Avoiding mosquito bites with insecticides and insect repellents is helpful, as is wearing protective clothing and using bed netting.Much effort has been made in cleaning the breeding sites (stagnant water) of mosquitoes near people's homes in areas where filariasis is found.Before visiting countries where lymphatic filariasis is found, it would be wise to consult a travel physician to learn about current preventative measures.

Resources

Organizations

National Lymphedema Network. 2211 Post St., Suite 404, San Francisco, CA 94115. (800) 541-3259. 〈http:// www.hooked.net〉.National Organization for Rare Disorders. PO Box 8923, New Fairfield, CT 06812-8923. (800) 999-6673. http://www.rarediseases.org.

Key terms

Antigen — Any substance (usually a protein) that causes an immune response by the body to produce antibodies.Filarial — Threadlike. The word "filament" is formed from the same root word.Host — A person or animal in which a parasite lives, is nourished, grows, and reproduces.Lymph — A watery substance that collects in the tissues and organs of the body and eventually drains into the bloodstream.Lymphatic system — A network composed of vessels, lymph nodes, the tonsils, the thymus gland, and the spleen. It is responsible for transporting fluid and nutrients to the bloodstream and for maturing certain blood cells that are part of the body's immune system.Lymphedema — The unnatural accumulation of lymph in the tissues of the body, which results in swelling in that area.Protozoa — (Plural form of protozoan) Single-celled organisms (not bacteria) of which about 30 kinds cause disease in humans.Streptococcal — Pertaining to any of the Streptococcus bacteria. These organisms can cause pneumonia, skin infections, and many other diseases.

elephantiasis

[el″ĕ-fan-ti´ah-sis] a chronic type of filariasis" >filariasis marked by inflammation and obstruction of the lymphatics and hypertrophy of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, chiefly affecting the lower limbs and external genitals. The disease derives its name from the symptoms, particularly limb swelling, which makes the legs look like those of an elephant. The term is often applied to hypertrophy and thickening of the tissues that result from any cause.
True elephantiasis, or elephantiasis filariensis, is most often caused by a slender threadlike filarial parasite, Wuchereria bancrofti, which enters the lymphatic system, causing an obstruction to drainage. The filaria larvae are transmitted by mosquitoes or flies that carry blood infected with them. Elephantiasis is most often encountered in tropical or subtropical areas such as Central Africa and certain Pacific islands; it is rare or nonexistent in the temperate zone.
The first visible signs are inflammation of the lymph nodes, with temporary swelling in the affected area, red streaks along the leg or arm, pain, and tenderness, attended by chills and fever (elephantoid fever), followed by formation of ulcers and tubercles, with thickening, discoloration, and fissuring of the skin. Specific drugs are administered for destruction of the parasites; bandages and elevation of the affected area help relieve the swelling. Sanitary control to eliminate the carrier insects is the most effective approach to elimination of this disease.

Elephantiasis of the legs and of the scrotum. From Dorland's, 2000. elephantiasis scro´ti that in which the scrotum is the main seat of the disease. Called also chylocele.

el·e·phan·ti·a·sis

(el'ĕ-fan-tī'ă-sis), Hypertrophy, edema, and fibrosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, especially of the lower limbs and genitalia with hydrocele, or enlargement of a limb, usually caused by long-standing obstructed lymphatic vessels, most commonly the result of years of infection by filarial worms such as Wuchereria bancrofti or Brugia malayi.
See also: filariasis. Synonym(s): elephant leg [G. fr. elephas, elephant]

elephantiasis

(ĕl′ə-fən-tī′ə-sĭs)n.1. Chronic, often extreme enlargement and hardening of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue, especially of the legs and external genitals, resulting from lymphatic obstruction.2. A tropical filarial disease that often leads to this condition as a result of infestation of the lymph glands and vessels with filarial worms; lymphatic filariasis.

(1) Pachydermoid cutaneous induration as an end-result of regional oedema and fibrosis of the region due to either chronic lymphatic blockage by nematodal larvae, venereal infection or excision of lymphatics and lymph nodes
(2) Pellagra, see there

elephantiasis

Pachydermoid cutaneous induration elicited by chronic lymphatic blockage Elephantiasis Legs, causing edema, chronic inflammation and eventually pachydermia, due to lymphatic plugging by microfilaria, eg Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Onchocerca volvulus Penis/scrotum, due to lymphogranuloma venereum; the scrotal lymphedema may extend cranially to the renal lymphatics and rupture into the renal pelvis, causing chyluria Arm, often secondary to axillary lymph node dissection in a modified radical mastectomy

el·e·phan·ti·a·sis

(el'ĕ-fan-tī'ă-sis) Hypertrophy and fibrosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, especially of the lower limbs and genitalia, caused by long-standing obstruction of lymphatic vessels, most commonly after years of infection by the filarial worms Wuchereria bancrofti or Brugia malayi, coupled with secondary bacterial infection alone or combined with a fungal infection.

elephantiasis

The condition of enormous enlargement of a limb, the scrotum or the female external genitalia caused by obstruction to the lymph drainage channels by masses of parasitic microfilaria worms, mainly Wuchereria bancrofti or, in the condition of lymphogranuloma venereum, by the Chlamydia trachomatis organism.

elephantiasis

an abnormality of the human lymphatic system in which blockage of the lymph ducts causes gross swellings of the surrounding tissues, often resulting in limbs that appear like those of an elephant. The condition can be caused by bacterial infection, but in tropical regions is caused most often by nematode FILARIAL WORMS, for example, Wucheria bancrofti.

el·e·phan·ti·a·sis

(el'ĕ-fan-tī'ă-sis) Hypertrophy, edema, and fibrosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue.

elephantiasis

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Elephantiasis

REFERENCE

elephantiasis

elephantiasis

elephantiasis

Elephantiasis

Definition

Description

Causes and symptoms

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prognosis

Prevention

Resources

Organizations

Key terms

elephantiasis

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Words related to elephantiasis

noun hypertrophy of certain body parts (usually legs and scrotum)

Related Words