Presentation
The skin above the swellings is thick and sometimes due to prolonged friction there may be skin ulcers present. Increased body temperature is present in some cases. The enlarged body parts are mostly painless. [ic.steadyhealth.com]
Case Presentation An 18-year-old, unmarried female presented with the complaint of low grade fever on and off and a perineal swelling. The swelling had been present for 2 years, slowly increasing to its present size. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
At the time of presentation, she was being treated with bosentan and sildenafil for pulmonary arterial hypertension, in addition to prednisone, venlafaxine, lansoprazole, metoclopramide, levothyroxine, temazepam, aspirin, and oxycodone. [mdedge.com]
Presentation of the case A 65-year-old man presented in Beira Central Hospital, Mozambique, with a right scrotal mass (diameter 80 x 80 cm), evolved over 15 years. [journals.plos.org]
Entire Body System
- Congestive Heart Failure
Chronic lymphedema, either congenital or secondary to infection, surgery, radiation, neoplastic obstruction, obesity, portal hypertension, or chronic congestive heart failure, plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
- Myxedema
Elephantiasis Nostras Verrucosa (ENV) is a rare form of pretibial myxedema, which is nearly always associated with Graves' disease. A case is presented here of Graves' disease who had elephantiasis variety of pre-tibial myxedema (PTM). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
A notable sufferer of Proteus syndrome was the so-called Elephant Man.Other causes may include: Repeated streptococcal infection Lymphadenectomy Hereditary birth defects Pretibial myxedema "Lymphatic filariasis". World Health Organization. [en.wikipedia.org]
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3] This article has been cited by 1 Polypoid and fungating form of elephantiasic pretibial myxedema with involvement of the hands Nicola di Meo,Katiuscia Nan,Cecilia Noal,Sara Trevisini,Mattia Fadel,Giovanni Damiani,Silvia [ijdvl.com]
- Soft Tissue Mass
Grossly, it was a single, polypoidal soft tissue mass measuring 5.2 × 3.4 × 2.2 cm. The cut section was grey-white to grey-yellow and firm. Microscopic examination showed a polypoidal lesion covered by acanthotic epidermis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
- Perineal Swelling
Case Presentation An 18-year-old, unmarried female presented with the complaint of low grade fever on and off and a perineal swelling. The swelling had been present for 2 years, slowly increasing to its present size. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
- Cape Verde
It is found in the tropics in Africa (Ethiopia, Cameroon, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, and the islands of Cape Verde, Bioko, Sao Tome & Principe), central America and Asia. [lucianoschiazza.it]
Gastrointestinal
- Abdominal Mass
We report a third case of abdominal elephantiasis and we briefly review this entity. We present the case of a 51-year-old woman who had progressively developed an enormous pediculated abdominal mass hanging down her knees. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Cardiovascular
- Heart Failure
Chronic lymphedema, either congenital or secondary to infection, surgery, radiation, neoplastic obstruction, obesity, portal hypertension, or chronic congestive heart failure, plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Skin
- Skin Edema
Edema of the limbs is graded on the severity of the edema Grade I – Pitting (after pressing the edematous limb with the finger tip for 30 seconds, the fluid gets displaced into the surrounding tissue and leaves a ‘depression’ in the skin) edema which [pediatriconcall.com]
Musculoskeletal
- Muscular Atrophy
It has been reported that maintaining a seated posture obstructs both lymphoducts and veins because of bending the groin, decreases their return flow by inducing muscular atrophy, and causes subcutaneous edema in the lower limbs. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
- Ankylosis
Very long-standing disease is associated with fusion of the interdigital spaces and ankylosis of the interphalangeal or ankle joints. [lucianoschiazza.it]
Urogenital
- Swelling of the Scrotum
Definitions of elephantiasis 1 n hypertrophy of certain body parts (usually legs and scrotum); the end state of the disease filariasis Types: elephantiasis neuromatosa hypertrophy of a limb chyloderma, elephantiasis scroti swelling of the scrotum resulting [vocabulary.com]
People with the disease can suffer from lymphedema and elephantiasis and in men, swelling of the scrotum, called hydrocele. Lymphatic filariasis is a leading cause of permanent disability worldwide. [cdc.gov]
In men, elephantiasis can also result in the swelling of the scrotum (hydrocele). Elephantiasis affects the poorest communities, preventing individuals from living a productive working and social life, further trapping them in the cycle of poverty. [unitingtocombatntds.org]
In men, lymphedema of the genitalia usually involves swelling of the scrotum, often to the size of a watermelon making it very painful and difficult to walk. In women, the condition may present swelling in one or both breasts. [end.org]
Elephantiasis causes swelling of the scrotum, legs, or breasts. Elephantiasis is considered a neglected tropical disease (NTD). It’s more common in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, including Africa and Southeast Asia. [healthline.com]
Workup
The histopathological diagnosis was suggested as vulval elephantiasis, and further workup was suggested. Subsequent to histopathologic report, filarial antigen serology was done, which was positive. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
[…] affecting humans and animals, caused by filariae; ie, nematode parasites of the family Filariidae. [1] Filarial parasites can be classified according to the habitat of the adult worms in the vertebral host, as follows (see Pathophysiology, Etiology, and Workup [emedicine.medscape.com]
Microbiology
- Chlamydia
The causative agent of LGV, Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L1-L3, is a lymphotropic organism which leads to the development of thrombolymphangitis and perilymphangitis, and lymphadenitis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Other infections such as chlamydia, herpes and syphilis are known to increase susceptibility to HIV. [ndtv.com]
Other types of elephantiasis are genital elephantiasis caused by a sexually transmitted organism of Chlamydia group. The disease is called as Lymphogranuloma Venereum. [pediatriconcall.com]
Another bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis can also cause obstruction of lymphatic system leading to swelling of genitals. In rare cases elephantiasis can also be caused by podoconiosis disorder. [diseasespictures.com]
- Chlamydia Trachomatis
The causative agent of LGV, Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L1-L3, is a lymphotropic organism which leads to the development of thrombolymphangitis and perilymphangitis, and lymphadenitis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Another bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis can also cause obstruction of lymphatic system leading to swelling of genitals. In rare cases elephantiasis can also be caused by podoconiosis disorder. [diseasespictures.com]
Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L1-L3 causes the lymphogranuloma venereum. It damages the lympathic system causing lymphatic obstruction in the genitals. When the obstruction is chronic in nature, eventually genital elephantiasis may be caused. [xpertdox.com]
The bacterium that results in LGV, Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L1-L3, damages the lympathic system resulting in lymphatic obstruction in the genitals. Chronic obstruction eventually results in genital elephantiasis. [rarediseases.org]
Treatment
Various treatment options have been reported for this disease. We present a 64-year-old man with erythrodermic psoriasis and elephantiasis nostras verrucosa in whom the lesions were resolved almost completely after acitretin treatment. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
For this reason, prevention and treatment are intertwined. Drug treatments are discussed below. In addition to drug treatments, there are other preventative methods. [web.stanford.edu]
They found that doxycycline treatment resulted in almost complete elimination of adult worms 14 months after treatment and a sustained loss of larval offspring from at least 8 to 14 months after treatment. [eurekalert.org]
“Some individuals develop AEs after treatment, and this can reduce the willingness of persons in endemic areas to accept treatment,” the authors wrote. “The purpose of this study was to improve understanding of the cause of AEs following treatment. [genengnews.com]
Prognosis
The prognosis for Lymphatic Filariasis is generally good, as most individuals are asymptomatic. [dovemed.com]
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. [encyclopedia.com]
Etiology
To describe the clinical and pathologic characteristics and etiologic factors of localized lymphedema. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Brugia malayi is an etiological agent present in areas of Asia. What is the Cause of the Disease? Etiology The etiology of elephantiasis is lymphatic damage secondary to the nematode infection lymphatic filariasis. [clinicaladvisor.com]
Epidemiology
However, other disorders cause tropical lymphedema, and this report aims to identify clinical epidemiological aspects of limb swelling in northern Ethiopia and to provide an algorithm orienting the clinical diagnosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Filariasis: Epidemiology, 2013. http://www.who.int/lymphatic_filariasis/epidemiology/en/ > 4 Biology - Life Cycle of Wuchereria bancrofti, 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lymphaticfilariasis/biology_w_bancrofti.html > 5 Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis [microbewiki.kenyon.edu]
‘However, there are differences in the epidemiology and pathophysiology of elephantiasis and hydrocele.’ [en.oxforddictionaries.com]
‘However, there are differences in the epidemiology and pathophysiology of elephantiasis and hydrocele.’ ‘During the past four years, 80 million people have been successfully treated for elephantiasis, one of the world's most disfiguring diseases.’ [oxforddictionaries.com]
Pathophysiology
‘However, there are differences in the epidemiology and pathophysiology of elephantiasis and hydrocele.’ [en.oxforddictionaries.com]
‘However, there are differences in the epidemiology and pathophysiology of elephantiasis and hydrocele.’ ‘During the past four years, 80 million people have been successfully treated for elephantiasis, one of the world's most disfiguring diseases.’ [oxforddictionaries.com]
To the Editor: Elephantiasis nostras verrucosa (ENV) is a skin disorder caused by marked underlying lymphedema that leads to hyperkeratosis, papillomatosis, and verrucous growths on the epidermis. 1 The pathophysiology of ENV relates to noninfectious [mdedge.com]
Pathophysiology The pathophysiology is permanent lymphatic dilatation and dysfunction. This leads to swelling and secondary infections resulting in chronic skin changes and continued risk of infection. [clinicaladvisor.com]
Pathophysiology of edema in congestive heart failure. Heart Dis Stroke 1993 ; 2 : 325 –9. ↵ Turhan E, Ege A, Keser S, Bayar A. Elephantiasis nostras verrucosa complicated with chronic tibial osteomyelitis. [jabfm.org]
Prevention
Prevention and Treatment Prevention Since there is no known vaccine or cure for lymphatic filariasis, the most effective method that exists to control the disease is prevention. [web.stanford.edu]
Podoconiosis is unique in being an entirely preventable non-communicable disease. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Large-scale treatment (preventive chemotherapy) Elimination of lymphatic filariasis is possible by stopping the spread of the infection through preventive chemotherapy. [who.int]