All About Elephantitis

Elephantitis, or lymphedema, is a condition which causes body parts like the arms, legs, or even other body parts to become severely swollen due to an accumulation of fluid. Lymphedema usually presents itself in either one arm or one leg, although it can sometimes show up in both. Lymphedema results when there is some sort of blockage in the lymphatic system, which is an important part of the circulatory system. The lymphatic system's job is to drain fluids from the body to prevent fluid buildup. Elephantitis is incurable, but there are treatments for it.

Causes - there are several causes for elephantitis, which your doctor will determine. There are two types of lymphedema, primary and secondary. The cause of primary lymphedema is usually genetic and doesn't occur before the age of 35 in some cases. Secondary lymph edema has other causes unrelated to heredity. One cause of secondary lymph edema is surgery. Some surgeries, especially in cases where cancer is present, the lymph nodes must be removed, making the patient more susceptible to lymphedema. Secondary lymph edema can also be caused by cancer cells or even parasites from an infection actually blocking the lymph vessels, resulting in elephantitis.

Symptoms - symptoms of elephantitis include pain or discomfort in your limb or limbs, repeated infections in the affected area, a tight or heavy feeling in one or more of your limbs, hardening and thickening of the skin surrounding the area, and swelling of part of your arm or leg, including the fingers and/or toes.

Diagnosis - diagnosis of this condition sometimes involves ruling out other conditions first. Some tests to diagnose elephantitis are MRIs, CAT scans, Doppler ultrasounds and a special scan of the area using radioactive dye called a lymphoscintigraphy.

Treatment - despite the fact that there is no cure for lymphedema, there are however, many treatment options. One treatment option for this condition is wearing compression garments. Compression garments, whether long sleeves or stocking, encourage drainage in the affected area, but a proper fit is essential to its success. There is even compression that can be connected to a pump referred to as pneumatic compression. Another treatment for elephantitis is exercising the area. Not just any exercise will suffice, and it must be an exercise prescribed by your doctor or physical therapy, created especially for someone with your condition. Exercise works by encouraging drainage of the area. There are other possible treatments for lymphedema, and which one is chosen depends on the treatment plan that you and your doctor create.

References

Mayo Clinic Lymphedema Page - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lymphedema/DS00609