Neglected
diseases like Lymphedema stand in stark contrast to other chronic
diseases like diabetes, which receive the life-long drug treatments
they need. Severe complications due to lack of access to therapy and compression garments, lead to more chances of lymphedema progressing to cellulitis, life-threatening complications such as lymphangiosarcoma, or sepsis (due to resistance to antibiotics).
Across
the world, people suffer from neglected diseases, conditions that
prevail in many countries lacking good health care services, and
medical resources. Diseases like Lymphedema typically do not kill
immediately, but instead, it slowly becomes severe and disabling, leading to
terrible suffering, creating losses of capital, worker productivity,
and economic growth.
Advanced lymphedema (lymphatic elephantiasis), is
characterized by fibrosis and fatty induration of the tissues, which
become much more difficult to reduce than in the early stages, where the
swelling is more characteristically due to protein-rich fluid. So to
reduce limb volume, more intervention is required at an earlier
stage, much more than is currently indicated by some international
organizations. Read more information on why the world is not treating a treatable disease like Lymphedema HERE.
With
regard to filarial lymphedema (Lymphatic Filariasis), it is very
important that at the present moment and by means of drugs, there is a goal and campaign of eliminating filariasis, to prevent
the next generations of people from being infected. But there should also
be a goal and campaigns, for the treatment of the present
generations, who are already affected and suffering, from the
consequent established lymphatic edema. The same happens with
lymphedema due to Podoconiosis (lymphatic podoconiosis), which also
needs reduction treatment and compression garments, in order to
control its progression.
Lymphatic edema without treatment or
inadequately treated is more likely to develop very serious or even
lethal complications such as erysipelas, adenolymphangitis,
dermatolymphangioadenitis - DLA (cellulitis), necrotizing fasciitis,
septicemia (sepsis), lymphangiosarcoma, etc. Elephantiasis whatever its cause or setting will never
be eradicated from the world, whilst there are still people that
don't have access to proper specialized treatment options
for lymphedema. Read more information on what is the best treatment for Lymphedema HERE.
Lymphedema
is universally recognized as a neglected and severely debilitating
disease, even though it already has effective treatments. In spite of
this, many national health systems, even in modern and
industrialized countries, allocate little or nothing to treating and
preventing Lymphedema, in contrast to the full coverage given
to
other chronic diseases.
No
drug or surgical
procedure
exists that
can permanently cure Lymphedema, but this
is not an excuse
for not funding
public health treatments.
Funding physical therapy and compression garments could help in the
final push for the eradication of lymphatic elephantiasis (Stage-III-lymphedema) in the world.
Primary
and Secondary lymphedema collectively, affect millions of people
across the world, most in the poorest areas of the poorest countries.
All lymphedema whatever the cause and setting, can drift towards severe
deformity, leading to increased disability in men, women, and
children of all ages. Furthermore, inflammation and infections in
young people, lead to absences from school, reduced future quality
of life, and
labor productivity.
However, lymphedema can be successfully treated, what’s more, preventing its progression and complications in the first place is completely achievable through increased awareness, and early-stage preventive treatment programs. See the video about the best treatment results for Stage III lymphedema/Elephantiasis HERE
However, lymphedema can be successfully treated, what’s more, preventing its progression and complications in the first place is completely achievable through increased awareness, and early-stage preventive treatment programs. See the video about the best treatment results for Stage III lymphedema/Elephantiasis HERE
The
U.S. spends over $8,000 per person per year on health expenditures,
in comparison, the minimum yearly needs of most
lymphedema patients are two weeks of intensive physical therapy, and 2 compression garments.
This opens the door to a critique, of the disparities in
health resources that are dedicated to lymphedema. Even so, the
medical/ethical excuse used by some national health systems and
international organizations, is that even though "Gold Standard" conservative treatment is safe and effective, it is expensive,
time-consuming, and needs certified therapists. Read more about which country has the best public healthcare coverage of lymphedema HERE.
Without drastic increases in funding and medical, public, and political awareness, the plight of people affected by lymphedema is unlikely to budge anytime soon.
Without drastic increases in funding and medical, public, and political awareness, the plight of people affected by lymphedema is unlikely to budge anytime soon.
Less
than 20 percent of the world’s population lives in some of the most
developed and economically high-functioning countries, and nearly 90
percent of the world’s total financial resources are devoted to
the citizens of these nations. This situation does not benefit or reflect the
reality of patients suffering from lymphedema in these countries since most of them are untreated or undertreated. Many High-tech
counties are implementing cheap, modified, and simple versions of
treatment with little supporting evidence, so as not to fund good treatment options. Read more information on the simple modified treatments HERE.
The worst situation for access to treatment is for the low-income countries, where national health systems and policies are doing little to nothing about it. Conversely, some global health experts estimate that for every dollar spent on neglected disease control, we get back over $50 in increased productivity. By increasing awareness and funding of treatments for neglected diseases, the world economies will be making one of the best global investments possible. Read more about what is the current management perspective and situation of Lymphatic Filariasis and Podoconiosis HERE.
CLICK TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE BEST NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT OPTION FOR ELEPHANTIASIS (STAGE III-LYMPHOEDEMA):
REFERENCES
(Pinch on the texts to read the following Research Articles)
SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES
DIAGNOSE AND TREATMENT
- LYMPHATIC MEDICINE: Paradoxically and Unnecessarily Ignored
- CHRONIC OEDEMA/LYMPHEDEMA: Under-recognized and Under-treated
- LYMPHEDEMA: From Diagnose to Treatment
- TREATMENT: Lymphedema Limbs
- LOWER EXTREMITY LYMPHEDEMA UPDATE: Diagnose and Treatment Guidelines
- BEFORE THE PROBLEM BECOMES ELEPHANTIASIS: How to Solve Lymphatic Congestion
- LYMPHATIC MANAGEMENT: An International Interest between Developed and Developing Countries, Similarities, differences, and Challenges.
- THE RISK OF GENITAL EDEMA after External Pump Compression for Lower Limb Lymphedema
- WHAT IS THE ROLE OF EXCISIONAL SURGERY IN THE TREATMENT OF LYMPHEDEMA
INFECTIONS
- INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS OF LYMPHEDEMA
- ACUTE INFLAMMATORY EXACERBATIONS IN LYMPHEDEMA
- LYMPHEDEMATOUS AREAS: Privileged sites for Tumors, Infections, and Immune Disorders
- MALIGNANT TUMORS: As Complications of Lymphedema
PEDIATRIC AND PRIMARY LYMPHEDEMA
- NORD: Rare Disease Database. Lymphedema
- AN APPROACH TO FAMILIAL LYMPHOEDEMA
- PRIMARY LYMPHEDEMA
- PEDIATRIC CHILDREN LYMPHEDEMA: A Retrospective Chart Review of 86 Cases
- LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS: An Infection of Childhood
LIPEDEMA / CHRONIC VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY
- Lipedema: A Call to Action!
- Lipedema: Update in the management of lipedema
- Lipedema: A Relatively Common Disease with Extremely Common Misconceptions
- Lipedema, A hardly known disease: Diagnosis, associated illness, and therapy
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency
- goog_588437081Chronic Venous Insufficiency: Variants of functional venous disease
ELEPHANTIASIS
- Neglected Patients with a Neglected Disease? A Qualitative Study of Lymphatic Filariasis
- Conservative Treatment of Lymphoedema of the Limbs (Foldi)
- Modern Treatment of Lymphoedema. Complex Physical Therapy.
- Effectiveness and Safety of Complete Decongestive Therapy
- Visualization of Accessory Lymphatic Pathways, after Manual Lymphatic Drainage
- Criteria for the Establishment of Combined Decongestive Physiotherapy of Lymphedema in a Country
PODOCONIOSIS
Articles that may also interest you:
(Click on the texts)
(Click on the texts)
- WHAT KIND OF DOCTOR TREATS LYMPHEDEMA/LYMPHOEDEMA - WHICH MEDICAL SPECIALITIES ARE RELATED TO LYMPHEDEMA
LYMPHEDEMA INCIDENCE
AND PREVALENCE
(click on the texts)
LYMPHEDEMA INCIDENCE
AND PREVALENCE
(click on the texts)