Elephantiasis is a disease caused by mosquitoes that carry filarial worms. It is characterized by severe swelling and thickening of the skin in the legs and genitals. Regions heavily affected include parts of Africa, Asia, and America. The disease occurs when filarial worms block the lymphatic system, causing lymph fluid to accumulate and enlarge the affected body parts. Symptoms include massive leg swelling, thickened skin, skin ulcers, and a pebbly or verrucous skin appearance. Prevention involves using drugs like albendazole and diethylcarbamazine to eliminate the filarial worms, as well as avoiding mosquito bites and washing exposed skin.

1. Department of zoology
PANCHAYAT COLLEGE,BARGARH Presented by-
Sritam Padhan
+3 1st year
BS-18-058

2. INTRODUCTION -
The word elephantiasis describes the gross(visible)
enlargement of the arms,legs or genitals to elephantoid size.
Elephantiasis is a disease that is characterized by the thickening
of the skin and underlying tissues,especially in legs and male
genitals.
Elephantiasis is caused by mosquitoes(female aedes and
female culex).

3. REGION OF THE WORLD AFFECTED BY ELEPHANTIASIS-
The disease is more likely to be found in Africa,,Asia and
America.
It is one of the most common causes of disability in the world.
In endemic communities,approximately 10% of women can
be affected with swollen limbs and 50% of man can suffer
from mutilating genital disease.

4. CAUSES-
Elephantiasisis caused by differente mosquitoes like female
culex and female Aedes and diiffernt types of microorganisms
which includes Wuchereria bancrofti and B.timori.
The disease is caused due to the obstruction of the lymph flow
and possibly of blood circulation.
Due to obstruction , lymph can’t get back in to circulatory
system accumulates into organs cause them to swell/ enlarge
to fantastic proportion.

5. SYMPTOMS-
The symptoms of the disease elephantiasis are
listed bellow – Severe swelling
Blocked lymph ducts
Massive leg swelling
Thickened skin tissue
Browny skin colour
Skin ulceration
Pebbly skin appearance
Verrucous skin appearance

6. PREVENTION AND TREATMENT-
To prevent from elephantiasis modern drugs like
Albendazole(zental),Diethylcarbamazine(hetrazan) etc
are used.
Infection may be reduced or eleminated by eradication
of microfilariae from circulation by administering
heterazan and compounds of antimony and arsenic.
Wearing shoes to avoid contact with the irritant soil.
Washing feet or legs with soap and water.
In India DEC( ) has been used in medicated solt to
help prevent spread of the disease.