ElephantiasisI did my report on filariasis, which is more commonly knownas elephantiasis. Elephantiasis is the late phase of filariasis.Filariasis is a tropical mosquito born parasitic disease causingobstruction of the lymph vessels. In some people the presence ofthe worm causes a tissue reaction that causes the lymph flow tobe blocked. This blockage produces lymphedema which is a swellingand can eventually lead to a tremendous enlargement of an extremityor organ. When elephantiasis follows repeated infection, parts ofthe body — particularly the legs — become grossly enlarged andthe surrounding skin hardens and ulcerates. Certain types ofelephantiasis can be treated surgically. Elephantiasis of the legsis usually treated with elastic bandages and frequent elevation ofthe legs. The leg and foot, may swell to elephantine size. Theremay be allergic reactions like itching and localized swelling. Thebody may also react by causing calcium tissue to be deposited aroundthe worm, walling it off and eventually causing its death.In humans, the mature worm lives tightly coiled in the lymphaticvessels where they reproduce. The female holds the fertilized eggsin her body. Later the embryos, called microfilariae, are dischargedalive. An interesting feature of these worms is the periodic swarmingof the microfilariae in the bloodstream. In most species swarmingtakes place at night. The embryos can be taken up by an insect onlywhen they are in a human’s bloodstream. They develope into infectivelarvae in the insect, which is the intermediate host. These hostsare various genera of mosquitoes, notably A?des, Anopheles, and Culex.Within 10 to 11 days after ingestion by a human skin they migrate tothe lymphayic vessels where they mature and reproduce. There isn’treally any prevention to this disease. BibliographyDrimmer, Frederick; THE ELEPHANT MAN; Putnam Publishers;New York, 1985 “Elephantiasis”, FISHBEIN’S ILLUSTRATED MEDICAL AND HEALTHENCYCLOPEDIA; H.S. Stuttman Inc. Publishers; Westport,CT.; 1983 ed., vol. 2, pp. 527 “Filariasis”, COLLIER’S ENCYCLOPEDIA; Macmillan EducationalCompany New York, Maxwell Macmillan Canada, MaxwellMacmillan International Publishing Group; New York,Oxford, Sydney; 1991 ed., col. 9, pp. 698-699
