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• Conditions (26): Darier's Disease, Inflammatory Linear Verrucous Epidermal Nevus, Genetic and Rare Conditions, and 23 others Darier's Disease, Inflammatory Linear Verrucous Epidermal Nevus, Genetic and Rare Conditions, Epidermal Nevus, Hailey-Hailey disease, Menkes Kinky Hair Syndrome, CREST Syndrome, Keratosis Follicularis Squamosa, Achalasia, Albinism, Agenesis of Corpus Callosum, Hirschsprung's Disease, Trimethylaminuria, Addison's Disease, Anencephaly, Dercum's Disease, Fragile X Syndrome, Dandy Walker Syndrome, Sturge-Weber syndrome, Diseases and Conditions, 1p36 Deletion Syndrome, PANDA Syndrome, Aarskog Syndrome, Pachygyria, Lichen Planus, Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease [hide]
• Groups (37): Elephantiasis, Beckers Nevus, Darier's Disease, and 34 others Elephantiasis, Beckers Nevus, Darier's Disease, Lichen Sclerosis, Lichen Planus, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Granuloma Annulare, Sweet Syndrome, Alopecia Areata, Achalasia, Rare 'Orphan' Disorders, Hirschsprung's Disease, PANDAS Syndrome, Agenesis of Corpus Callosum, Trimethylaminuria, Dercum's Disease, Addison's Disease, Anencephaly, Blepharophimosis, Dandy Walker Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, Pachygyria, Ledderhose Disease, Aarskog Syndrome, Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, Microphthalmia, Cri-du-Chat Syndrome, Behcet's Syndrome, Empty Sella Syndrome, 1p36 Deletion Syndrome, Cleidocranial Dysplasia, Fructose Intolerance, Kartagener Syndrome, Cushing's Syndrome, Menkes Kinky Hair Syndrome, Eczema, Short Bowel Syndrome [hide]
• Symptoms (21): Scleroderma, Blepharophimosis, Sweet Syndrome, and 18 others Scleroderma, Blepharophimosis, Sweet Syndrome, Club Foot, Von Willebrand disease, Castleman's Disease, Granuloma Annulare, pyoderma gangrenosum, Alopecia Areata, Tetralogy of Fallot, Raynaud's Disease and Phenomenon, red skin rash, Angioedema, Port-Wine Stain, Mole, Skin Findings, Sclerodactyly, Hypopigmentation, Fear of cancer of skin, Infected finger/toe/paronychia, Hyperpigmentation [hide]
• Treatments (22): Ivermectin, Ivermectin 6 MG, Ivermectin 6 MG Oral Tablet, and 19 others Ivermectin, Ivermectin 6 MG, Ivermectin 6 MG Oral Tablet, Ivermectin 3 MG, Relaxation of scar or web contracture of skin, Ivermectin 3 MG Oral Tablet, hydroquinone 40 MG/ML Topical Cream, Dermabrasion, HYDROQUINONE 4 %, Other OR therapeutic procedures on skin and breast, dioxybenzone 30 MG/ML / ETHYL DIHYDROXYPROPYL PABA 50 MG/ML / hydroquinone 40 MG/ML Topical Cream, dioxybenzone 0.03 MG/MG / ETHYL DIHYDROXYPROPYL PABA 0.05 MG/MG / hydroquinone 0.04 MG/MG Topical Gel, hydroquinone 40 MG/ML / padimate-O 30 MG/ML Topical Cream, Operations on the integumentary system, hydroquinone, hydroquinone 20 MG/ML Topical Cream, HYDROQUINONE 3.3 %, fluocinolone 0.1 MG/ML / hydroquinone 40 MG/ML / Tretinoin 0.5 MG/ML Topical Cream, Electrolysis and other epilation of skin, HYDROQUINONE 2 %, Electron Microscopy, hydroquinone 33 MG/ML Topical Solution [hide]

About Elephantiasis

Elephantiasis is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs and genitals. Elephantiasis generally results from obstructions of the lymphatic vessels. It is most commonly caused by a parasitic disease known as lymphatic... more

Elephantiasis is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs and genitals. Elephantiasis generally results from obstructions of the lymphatic vessels. It is most commonly caused by a parasitic disease known as lymphatic filariasis.

Alternatively, elephantiasis may occur in the absence of parasitic infection. This nonparasitic form of elephantiasis, known as nonfilarial elephantiasis or podoconiosis, generally occurs in the mountains of central Africa. Nonfilarial elephantiasis is thought to be caused by persistent contact with volcanic ash. Elephantiasis is associated in the public mind with "the Elephant Man", the carnival stage name of Joseph Merrick. The name refers to the resemblance of the sufferer's limbs to the thick, baggy skin on the limbs and trunks of elephants. However, it is now believed that Merrick's deformity was not actually caused by elephantiasis, but by a completely different medical problem called Proteus Syndrome.

The current first-line treatment of lymphatic filariasis is diethylcarbamazine. 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.

Another form of effective treatment involves rigorous cleaning of the affected areas of the body. Several studies have shown that these daily cleaning routines can be an effective way to limit the symptoms of lymphatic filariasis. The efficacy of these treatments suggests that many of the symptoms of elephantiasis are not directly a result of the lymphatic filariasis but rather the effect of secondary skin infections.

Also, surgical treatment may be helpful for issues related to scrotal elephantiasis and hydrocele. However, surgery is generally ineffective at correcting elephantiasis of the limbs.

A vaccine is not yet available and is unlikely to be developed in the near future.

Antibiotics as a possible treatment

In 2003 it was suggested that the common antibiotic doxycycline might be effective in treating elephantiasis. The parasites responsible for elephantiasis have a population of symbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia, that live inside the worm. When the symbiotic bacteria are killed by the antibiotic, the worms themselves also die. Clinical trials in June 2005 by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine reported that an 8 week course almost completely eliminated microfilariaemia.

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