Filariasis or Elephantiasis (Greek ελεφαντίασις, or even elephant man syndrome as “the species of elephant,” ὁ ἐλέφας of, “the elephant”), is an abnormal enlargement of a body part through a lymphatic. Usually the legs or the external genital organs are affected. This disease is widespread, especially in developing countries. We distinguish acquired from congenital forms.

Result of infectious diseases
The disease occurs as elephantiasis tropica [1] mainly in tropical regions and is used here (called malayi and Wuchereria malayi or filaria) as a late consequence of various infections, including by nematodes such as Brugia malayi or Wuchereria bancrofti, but also by leprosy, caused. The worms enter through the bite of a mosquito or other insect into the lymphatic system, causing a chronic inflammatory response with lymph, which leads over time to an extreme enlargement and hardening of the skin.

As a prophylactic protection against mosquitoes by mosquito repellents or nets is recommended.

The elephantiasis can be by an inflammatory destruction of the lymphatic drainage, a complication of erysipelas occurring worldwide [1].
After repeated severe cases of cold sores can result in so-called macrocheilia (Greek μακροχειλία, makrochilía, “large lips”) can occur.

Other causes
after severe superficial phlebitis [1] with massive Gewebestauung
Even cancer can drag a Elephantiasis itself, either directly by occlusion of lymphatic vessels by neoplastic Lymphmetastasen or indirectly as a side effect or necessary driving under the treatment of metastases:
Splenic operating at [1] of the lymphatic system, such as a persistent arm swelling after breast cancer surgery
with radiotherapy [1]
especially with previous history of cancer and therapy with Elephantiasisausbildung late cases of secondary malignant tumors occurred, which can be regarded as a complication of elephantiasis: Mostly these are rapidly growing sarcomas, which are summarized under the term ‘Stewart-Treves syndrome’ [1]. Only curative treatment option is the most radical amputation of the affected limb, usually there are metastases at diagnosis, however, allow only a palliative (soothing) with cytotoxic chemotherapy or palliative care.

Congenital forms
As elephantiasis congenita hereditaria [1] (Latin for congenital, “innate” and hereditarius, “inherited”) is one who calls in infants developing swelling of those body parts that have a developmental disability erblicherseits or by insufficient or no Lymphabflussbahnen.
In the context of complex malformation syndromes such as neurofibromatosis [2]

Treatment
The disease is not transferable. There is no real cure it. But although the causes of lymph congestion in many cases irreversible, is the consistent application of manual lymph drainage several times a week and lasting wear compression bandages or stockings outward symptoms for many patients the reversible and well controlled. However, the skin is stretched and will hardly recover their original flexibility. In question is then at most a gathering of the skin and subcutaneous tissue in plastic surgery, which features the original skin but also can not fully reconstruct. Attempts auszuschälen any jammed tissue spacious, but have proven harmful in the past as useless and, by long-range scarring.