Elephantiasis

Elephantiasis
Elephantiasis of the legs due to filariasis.
SpecialtyInfectious disease, general surgery
SymptomsSwelling of the skin

Elephantiasis, often incorrectly called elephantitis, is the enlargement and hardening of limbs or body parts due to tissue swelling (edema).[1][2] It is characterised by edema, hypertrophy, and fibrosis of skin and subcutaneous tissues, due to obstruction of lymphatic vessels (lymphedema).[2] It may affect the genitalia.[2] The term elephantiasis is often used in reference to symptoms caused by parasitic worm infections,[1][2] but may refer to a variety of diseases that swell parts of the subject's body to exceptionally massive proportions.[2]

  1. ^ a b "Definition of ELEPHANTIASIS". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  2. ^ a b c d e "elephantiasis", The Free Dictionary, retrieved 2018-06-28

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · View on Wikipedia

Developed by razib.in