Elephantiasis

Cause

• Elephantiasis nostras, due to longstanding chronic lymphangitis
• Elephantiasis tropica, caused by a number of parasitic worms, particularly Wuchereria bancrofti. More than 120 million people, mostly in Africa and Southeast Asia, are affected.
• Nonfilarial elephantiasis, an immune disease affecting the lymph vessels
• Leishmaniasis
• Elephantiasis, Grade 3 lymphedema which may occur in people with breast cancer
• Genital elephantiasis, end result of lymphogranuloma venereum
• Proteus syndrome, a genetic disorder best known as the condition possibly suffered by Joseph Merrick, the so-called "Elephant Man."

• Repeated streptococcal infection
• Lymphadenectomy
• Hereditary birth defects
• Pretibial myxedema