Lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, is best known from dramatic photos of people with grossly enlarged or swollen arms and legs. The disease is caused by parasitic worms, including Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and B. timori, all transmitted by mosquitoes. Lymphatic filariasis currently affects 120 million people worldwide, and 40 million of these people have serious disease.
When an infected female mosquito bites a person, she may inject the worm larvae, called microfilariae, into the blood. The microfilariae reproduce and spread throughout the bloodstream, where they can live for many years. Often disease symptoms do not appear until years after infection. As the parasites accumulate in the blood vessels, they can restrict circulation and cause fluid to build up in surrounding tissues. The most common, visible signs of infection are excessively enlarged arms, legs, genitalia, and breasts.
Medicines to treat lymphatic filariasis are most effective when used soon after infection, but they do have some toxic side effects. In addition, the disease is difficult to detect early. Therefore, improved treatments and laboratory tests are
When an infected female mosquito bites a person, she may inject the worm larvae, called microfilariae, into the blood. The microfilariae reproduce and spread throughout the bloodstream, where they can live for many years. Often disease symptoms do not appear until years after infection. As the parasites accumulate in the blood vessels, they can restrict circulation and cause fluid to build up in surrounding tissues. The most common, visible signs of infection are excessively enlarged arms, legs, genitalia, and breasts.
Medicines to treat lymphatic filariasis are most effective when used soon after infection, but they do have some toxic side effects. In addition, the disease is difficult to detect early. Therefore, improved treatments and laboratory tests are
by Anonymous February 20, 2003
" Elephantitis" commonly referred to Julie disease. A chronic swelling of the legs coupled with the formation of fibrous tumerous growths.
"Elephantitis" or Julie disease prevalent to Nelson Lancs, Especially among big fat Julie's. Caused by thread worms and anal spackling.
by freddy fingers 45 February 17, 2012
Lymphatic Filiarisis (elephantiasis) is a thread-like filarial worm is passed from person to person through the bite of an infected mosquito. Once inside the body of an unsuspecting person, the worm thrives in the lymph vessels and tissues. As it grows, it causes marked swelling of the limbs and other extremities. Elephantiasis is a skin disease that is most common in the tropics. It gets its name because the affected skin becomes rough and thickened usually causes the disease. Mosquitoes carry the worm. When the mosquito bites, the worm enters the body and eventually lodges in the lymph vessels.
It most commonly affects the limbs and can occasionally move to the scrotal areas and outer genitalia.
please people, you might think its funny, but this is a serious and painful disease, its not right to make fun of these people, most of them live in areas where good medical help is hard to find so they can't get relief from this curable disease until its too late and its gone into later stages(when it is incurable). And you all seem to think its a joke.
It most commonly affects the limbs and can occasionally move to the scrotal areas and outer genitalia.
please people, you might think its funny, but this is a serious and painful disease, its not right to make fun of these people, most of them live in areas where good medical help is hard to find so they can't get relief from this curable disease until its too late and its gone into later stages(when it is incurable). And you all seem to think its a joke.
http ://www.bk- lymphklinik. de/foto/ KHAS36.jpg here is a picture of elephantitis, does that look funny to you?
by Reiuki2 July 3, 2007
A horrible, horrible thing to have!!
Passed on by a insect, and something a family does not like to talk about.
Passed on by a insect, and something a family does not like to talk about.
As a little girl who watched as her grandma could not walk by herself for grandma has a very big leg and it looked nasty. It was sad for a child to see.
For years I did not know what grand ma had, why her leg was so big and not so pleasant to look at. For this disease was something no one spoke of in my family.
Hearing the people and children at church point and stare was not something a grand daughter should ever have to witness, but having a grandmother like I did who had elephantitis and a God worshiping women she never got upset by these people pointing and commenting, she would just smile as my grandpa or uncle would help her get to where she was going.
My grandmother is passed on now, and I miss her dearly.
Just a grand daughters view of Elephantitis.
For years I did not know what grand ma had, why her leg was so big and not so pleasant to look at. For this disease was something no one spoke of in my family.
Hearing the people and children at church point and stare was not something a grand daughter should ever have to witness, but having a grandmother like I did who had elephantitis and a God worshiping women she never got upset by these people pointing and commenting, she would just smile as my grandpa or uncle would help her get to where she was going.
My grandmother is passed on now, and I miss her dearly.
Just a grand daughters view of Elephantitis.
by A Gran daughter January 3, 2008
A chronic, often extreme enlargement and hardening of hte cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue, esp. of the legs and the scrotum, resulting from lymphatic obstruction, and usually caused by a nematode worm, Wuchareria bancrofti.
Why's that guy have a wheel barrel?...oh... OH!
How the hell do you get your pants on?!
Just make sure you duck when he blows his wad!
How the hell do you get your pants on?!
Just make sure you duck when he blows his wad!
by Maximus Testiculus April 4, 2004
slang for the deforming disease known as elephantiasis(a good example of how a word related to health care can be misheard so easily)
by The Return of Light Joker April 6, 2008
by Krazy K December 1, 2002