How to Recognize Elephantiasis

By eHow Health Editor

Rate: (2 Ratings)

Elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis) is a horrible, disfiguring disease. We think of it as a rare occurrence when, in actuality approximately 120 million people are suffering from it, and the effects of this parasitic disease debilitates 40 million. It is found mainly in tropical or subtropical areas, such as South America and Africa and is usually contracted in childhood from mosquito bites.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Perform a blood test to try to determine whether the patient has the parasite in their system. This is not a definitive way to determine whether there is an infestation or not because only the embryos are in the bloodstream and the test must be done during the nighttime, when they are active. If a person has had the disease for years there are usually no embryos in the blood.

Step2

Examine the ankles of someone you suspect of harboring the parasite. The disease most often affects the legs, and the ankles are usually the first site for the swelling to occur. Legs, arms, the scrotum, penis, vulvae and breasts are the areas that the fluids blocked by the parasite are located. The affected area can swell up to four times its normal size.

Step3

Look at the skin of the victim. It may be thick and scaly, exhibiting a rash. It often becomes dark in color and has a warty appearance and has a tendency to crack, allowing secondary bacteria to infect the area. Much of the skin damage occurs as a result of blockage in the lymphatic system, which affects the body's ability to defend itself.

Step4

Be aware that some people who are infected with elephantiasis show no outward physical symptoms of the disease. The effects might be observed in damage to the kidneys and unnoticed lymphatic disorders, because the worms live in or near lymph nodes and block drainage of fluids throughout the body.

Step5

Note many of the symptoms in someone with elephantiasis are caused by the body's allergic reaction to the parasite. These symptoms include continual recurrence of fever, chills, headache, vomiting, sweating and pain. The enlarged lymph nodes are also a cause of skin ulcers, tiredness and bone and joint pain.