How is elephantiasis diagnosed

Learn about its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and how to prevent it. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What Is Elephantiasis? Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M. What are the symptoms of elephantiasis? What causes elephantiasis? Risk factors for elephantiasis. Diagnosing elephantiasis. How is elephantiasis treated? Complications of the condition. Read this next. Lymphatic Dysfunction Lymphedema. Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M. Swollen Ankle and Leg. Medically reviewed by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph.

While many people use lymphatic filariasis and elephantiasis interchangeably, it's actually lymphedema that gives the appearance of more elephant-like features. Lymphedema is when there is intense fluid collection and swelling in parts of the body, most often in the legs, breasts, or genitals.

This inflammation can sometimes be accompanied by fever and be quite painful. An estimated 15 million people currently live with lymphedema worldwide, and the majority of those who develop this condition do so years after first becoming infected with the parasite. Elephantiasis is when the skin and underlying tissues become abnormally thick. This is often the result of secondary bacterial infections that happen because the body's lymphatic system is damaged and their immune system is suppressed due to the parasite.

Some men infected with the parasite develop swelling in their scrotum. An estimated 25 million men worldwide are believed to have hydrocele as a result of lymphatic filariasis. This complication is generally found in infected individuals living in Asia, and consists of shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. Lymphatic filariasis is caused by three types of microscopic, thread-like worms, namely Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori. Much like malaria, these roundworms spread from person to person through mosquito bites.

Several different kinds of mosquito species can transmit the parasite, including Anopheles which also transmit malaria and Aedes which can transmit viruses like dengue and Zika. Mosquitoes aren't just carriers, they're also an important part of the worm's life cycle. When the insects bite someone who is infected, they take in the immature larvae of the parasite called microfilariae. For one to two weeks, the larvae go through a transformation inside the mosquito, and when the bug bites someone else, the now-infective larvae get transferred to the skin and make their way into the body.

Once inside, the worms grow into adult worms and cluster in the lymphatic system, sending out microfilariae into the blood stream, which can then be picked up by mosquitoes.

And on and on it goes. This can happen even if someone doesn't have any symptoms, and adult worms can live and reproduce inside the human body for six to eight years. The reason the worms can be so destructive in the human body is because they make their home in the lymphatic system.

This complex network of organs and tissues is responsible for, among other things, protecting the body from disease and regulating fluid in your tissues. In some cases, the swelling that takes place after a lymphatic filariasis infection is actually the result of our own body's immune system trying to rid itself of the worm.

Sometimes, however, the inflammation is caused by an opportunistic bacterial infection that the body's immune system was too damaged to stop. These secondary infections are what causes the elephantiasis, or hardening of the skin and tissues. For these effects to happen, however, you have to be bitten by infected mosquitoes repeatedly, over the span of several months.

There are two primary ways lymphatic filariasis is typically diagnosed: blood smears or assays. The worms can't be seen by the naked eye, but you can catch a glimpse of them under a microscope. This diagnostic method uses a small amount of blood taken by a finger prick, for example smeared onto a slide, which is then looked at through a microscope. The worms are only active at night, so the sample should be taken then. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Diagnosis Minus Related Pages. These can make the skin hard and thick. Some people may develop a blood disease called eosinophilia, which causes cough , shortness of breath and wheezing. Elephantiasis is painful disease that occurs when tiny parasite larvae are transferred to the body through mosquito bites.

It is a major cause of disability in endemic areas. When someone is bitten by an infected mosquito, microscopic larvae are left on the skin and can enter the person's body. The larvae can then migrate to the lymph system , where they develop into mature roundworms and can live for years.

People are usually infected with lymphatic filariasis in childhood but don't develop symptoms until later in life. About million people in the world are affected with elephantiasis, mainly in Asia, Africa, the Western Pacific and parts of the Caribbean and South America.

It usually takes repeated mosquito bites over several months or years in an area where lymphatic filariasis is common for a person to become infected. It is very rare to be infected after only visiting the area for a short time. Elephantiasis can make you more likely to get infections. If you have elephantiasis, see your doctor straight away if you develop any swelling, thickening of the skin or signs of an infection.

Elephantiasis is diagnosed with a blood test , which looks for the microscopic worms. The blood must be taken at night, when the worms are most active. However, the swelling may not happen until many years after the person is infected, so the lab tests are often negative.