Statement of the Illness/Disease

Elephantiasis, or Lymphatic Filariasis, is a disease of the lymphatic system attributed to excessive growth of the infected area. The disease caused by parasitic worms, all of which are carried by mosquitoes, and the worms inflame the lymphatic vessels, thus causing the infected area to harden and resemble the skin of an elephant. Symptoms of elephantiasis include severe edema usually located in the legs or the genitals with ulcerated and darkened skin. Often times, fever and headache accompany the edemic growth. Elephantiasis primarily and almost exclusively affects African nations, save or some other tropical and Asian countries. Therefore, people of African ethnicity, who live in Africa of course, are the group most affected by elephantiasis in the world.

Normal Function of the Organ Affected

The lymphatic system is the organ system that is responsible for transferring lymph between the tissues and the blood stream. It is also responsible for maintaining the stability and strength of the Immune System in order to defend the body against diseases, illnesses, and infections. It’s easier to think of the lymphatic system as a sewer for draining the various bodily fluids in order to keep a correct balance. This “drainage network” is composed of lymphatic vessels that carry lymph, a fluid that resembles blood plasma and carries essential proteins and other molecules. The spleen, the body’s primary protector in the lymphatic system, is responsible for disposing of all the debilitated red blood cells and other unknowns from the bloodstream to prevent infection. Since the lymphatic system resembles a drainage network, then its main outlets are the thoracic duct and the right lymphatic duct. The thoracic duct starts close to the lower spine area and runs up through the chest, ending at a large vein on the left side of the neck. Additionally, the right lymphatic duct conjures up lymph from the chest, arms, and right side of the neck. Waste, such as dead red blood cells and other unknown bodies, is carried out through tiny vessels, lymph capillaries, whenever a person breathes or when the muscles contract.

Definition of Disease

The massive growth of the limbs, genitals, and other parts of the body is the result of the lymph flow being blocked from exiting the lymph nodes as well as the possible obstruction of blood circulation. When the lymphatic system doesn’t dispose of the excess fluid from the tissues, the lymph builds up the body tissues near the lymphatic vessel exit and entrance areas, most of which are located in the legs. As a result, the tissue swells. The lymphatic blockage is caused by recurrent bacterial infections that cause the lymphatic vessels to inflame. If the obstruction is large enough, there is a back flow of lymph through the vessels that causes them to dilate. All of this obstruction, dilation, and infection are caused by three worms, all of which are transferred via mosquitoes: Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori. These worms only infect the lymphatic system because the lymphatic system is the only organ system they can live in. But elephantiasis also comes in the non-filarial variety, called podoconiosis. Podoconiosis, prevalent on the eastern parts of Africa such as Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, and Uganda is suggested to be caused by the constant contact with the red soils composed of alkali metals from volcanic activity. Since the populations of the stated countries are predominantly barefooted on a daily basis, the small chemical particles in the soil along with the raw sodium and potassium enter the skin through the feet, thus lodging themselves in the lymphatic tissues and causing the irritating effects that lead to the filarial lymphatic disease.

Treatment

Current treatment and standard therapies can include “chemotherapy to attack the adult worms as well as symptomatic treatment to repair damage caused by the body's reaction to the presence of dead worms. Drugs including Suramin (Antrypol ), Diethylcarbamazine (DEC, Heterazan, Banocide, and Notezine ), Ivermectin (Mectizan), Metrifonate (Trichlorphon), Mebendazole and Levamisole have shown to be effective in treating conditions associated with a filarial infection. Failure of the Lymphatic system due to an infection provides an opportunity for microbial infections to develop. These infections can be minimized by proper anisepticalyl hygenic care. Surgery can be performed to remove or bypass damaged lymphatic regions.”

Conclusion

Although lymphatic filariasis is geographically limited to the tropical and endemic areas of Africa, I think it can be prevented. The nonfilarial disease, podoconiosis, can easily be prevented through the use of proper footwear and avoidance of continual direct contact with the red soil. But the filarial variety, like a countless number of diseases in Africa, is transferred through mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are naturally attracted to tropical areas because of the humidity and high rate of standing water. But there are many tropical nations around the world, and they all have either little or none of the diseases found in Africa. So other factors to dwell on that possibly maintain the existence of elephantiasis may be poverty and sanitation, or lack thereof. If there were more adequate precautions for sanitation and if the debate over poverty came to a desirable end(easier said than done, obviously), the natives of Africa would be able to take one step closer to reducing, and even eliminating, the various diseases caused by mosquitoes.

References

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