Elephantitis is mainly of two types, “Lymphatic Filariasis” and “Non-Filarial Elephantitis”. This terrible disease can disfigure and disable a person for life.
Symptoms
Elephantitis is characterized by a number of symptoms which often make the diagnosis of the condition more difficult. This is because many of the symptoms of Elephantitis are similar to those exhibited by patients suffering from similar diseases. Many of the Elephantitis symptoms are not so visible in the early stages but become more prominent in a patient with advancing years.
Some of the common symptoms of Elephantitis are :
Inflammation
This is the most visible symptom of Elephantitis. When a person suffers from this condition, there is severe swelling in the affected area. In most patients, there is a huge swelling in the lower body parts such as the legs or the groin. Testicular Elephantitis, also informally known as “Elephantitis of the nuts” or “Elephantitis in the balls” is the worst a person suffering from the condition has to endure.
Enlarged Lymph Nodes
The person also suffers from swollen lymph nodes.
Pain
Most sufferers experience acute pain in the affected body part. This happens due to the natural reaction of the body to the allergens.
Sweating
The patients may sweat more than usual which can lead to much discomfort.
Headache
In many cases, the person also suffers from headaches. This is also caused by allergic reaction of the body.
Fever
The affected person often suffers from increased body temperature which is accompanied by sweating.
Chills
The person may also suffer from chills in the hands and feet which may cause him to shake.
Vomiting
The person may also throw up from time to time which is again, produced by allergic reaction of the body.
Skin Ulcers
Ulcers may also be seen on the skin of the suffering person.
Joint Pain
The person may also suffer from a pain in the joints.
Red Streaks
In many cases, red colored streaks or rashes may also appear in the arms and legs of the person.
Exhaustion
The person may also suffer from tiredness which affects his daily functions.
Abscesses
In many sufferers, abscesses are formed in the lymph nodes.
Causes of Elephantitis
Elephantitis is caused mainly due to two factors.
A major cause of the disease is mosquito infection. This happens when either of three microscopic parasitic worms like B. timori, Brugia Malayi or Wuchereria bancrofti infects the lymphatic system. All these worms are transmitted from one person to another by female mosquitoes. When a mosquito carrying a filarial worm bites a person, the worm travels to his lymph nodes and starts breeding. With time, the worms become more developed and causes swelling in the lymphatic vessels. An entire affected limb suffers an inflammation due to this and becomes two or three times huge than its original size. The swelling becomes externally visible and difficult to keep covered. This condition is known as Lymphatic Filariasis. It is one of the forms of Elephantitis.
Lymphatic infection due to chemicals is another reason behind the disorder. The condition mainly affects people living in Africa and tropical regions, particularly those travelling in bare feet. The soil in these regions is rich in minerals like sodium and potassium. The chemicals come in contact with the bare skin under the feet and move upwards to the lymphatic vessels, blocking them and causing an infection. The resulting condition is known as Non-Filarial Elephantitis.
