WORLD ELEPHANTIASIS DAY 2021 – Lymphostatic Elephantiasis - Lymphatic Filariasis & Podoconiosis - Pediatric & Primary Lymphoedema - Secondary Lymphoedema - Rare Disease - Awareness Day Campaign

A DAY FOR VINDICATION, MARCH 12, WORLD ELEPHANTIASIS DAY

March is the month not only to highlight lymphedema but also for people living and suffering from elephantiasis, also known as Stage-III lymphedema. Elephantiasis is one of the world's most disabling and disfiguring conditions, as well as life-threatening due to serious complications and infections.

Millions of people worldwide suffer from lymphatic dysfunction, either due to Primary Lymphedema (a rare genetic disease), or Secondary Lymphedema as a consequence of surgery, trauma, cancer, radiation, infection, chronic venous insufficiency, podoconiosis, filariasis, etc.

With regard to lymphatic filariasis, it is recognized that in many cases and in endemic countries, the disease is acquired for the first time in childhood, often up to a third of children are infected before the age of 5 years. This fact requires urgent awareness and involvement by international organizations and national health systems, promoting prevention campaigns, and investment in the resources needed for the correct management of lymphedema in children.

Reaching stage elephantiasis can be prevented in most cases if the underlying cause, which is lymphedema, is treated in its early stages. Access to the combination of Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) and compression garments is a safe and effective means to reduce and prevent the progression of mild lymphedema to more severe stages. Read more about the best treatment for elephantiasis here.

In addition to necessary patient basic daily self-care, consisting of hygiene, hydration, and limb elevation, the use of compression garments throughout the day is necessary and essential. Without compression devices, it is impossible to retain the progression of lymphatic edema. Compression garments are the only means by which a person can retain edema and comfortably carry out their daily activities. Basic self-care or the so-called "minimum package of care" is not enough without compression garments, to control the progression and advance of the disease. For more information on treatment.

The early treatment of lymphedema is the cornerstone to prevent and reduce the incidence of dermato-lymphangio-adenitis (infectious cellulitis) and lymphangitis, which can be causes of the subsequent worsening of the condition. Radical recession surgery aimed at removing compromised skin and subcutaneous tissue should be the last option. Alternative Low-Cost compression therapies without Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), can cause displacement of edema (genital edema in lower limbs). For more information on Dermatolymphangioadenitis (DLA) in Lymphedema. Read more about DLA (Dermatolymphangioadenitis) in lymphedema here.

Lymphostatic elephantiasis is not only a condition found in poor and developing countries, but can also be found in high-tech European and Western nations. Lymphedema is a major public health problem, and it is necessary to raise awareness to governments and international organizations that access to good treatment should be a global priority. Up to 10 million North Americans could be affected by lymphedema and it is estimated that more than 250 million people worldwide, of all ages including children, suffer from this disease.

International awareness campaigns are needed for access to good therapies and compression garments for patients diagnosed with chronic lymphedema. People with lymphedema must have access to continuous care throughout their lives, both to prevent progression to the most advanced stages of disfigurement and disability, as well as very serious infections such as dermatolymphangioadenitis (DLA) and sepsis, among others.

REFERENCES

• GERMAN SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY GUIDELINE: Diagnostics and Therapy of Lymphoedema.
• THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF LYMPHOLOGY: Consensus Document.
• Lymphatic Medicine: Paradoxically and Unnecessarily Ignored
• Lymphatic Filariasis: An infection of childhood
• An approach to familial lymphoedema
• NORD (National Organization of Rare Disorders) Primary Lymphoedema

Articles that may also interest you: 
(Click on the texts)

• FOCUS ON THE TERM ELEPHANTIASIS AND IT´S IMPLICATIONS FOR LYMPHOEDEMA 

• WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO AVOID INFECTIOUS CELLULITIS AND LYMPHANGITIS IN LYMPHEDEMA 

• WHAT IS THE RISK OF DERMATOLYMPHANGIOADENITIS (INFECTIOUS CELLULITIS IN LYMPHEDEMA 

• WHAT IS THE BEST TREATMENT FOR ELEPHANTIASIS

• WHY IS ELEPHANTIASIS A FORGOTTEN AND NEGLECTED DISEASE

• IS THERE DISTRESS ASSOCIATED WITH UNDER-TREATMENT OF LYMPHEDEMA - PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF LYMPHEDEMA

• WHY IS THE WORLD NOT TREATING A TREATABLE DISEASE LIKE LYMPHEDEMA. TURNING A BLIND EYE TO ELEPHANTIASIS

• WHAT IS THE BEST TREATMENT FOR LYMPHEDEMA

• IS LYMPHEDEMA DISABLING - INABILITY TO WORK AND DISABILITY RECOGNITION 

• INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE CORRECT TREATMENT FOR LYMPHEDEMA

• ELEPHANTIASIS IS NOT ONLY LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS 

• CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT CHILD ELEPHANTIASIS DUE TO PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LYMPHEDEMA 

• BEWARE WITH NEW TERMINOLOGY DESCRIBING LYMPHEDEMA TREATMENT

• WHAT KIND OF DOCTOR TREATS LYMPHEDEMA/LYMPHOEDEMA - WHICH MEDICAL SPECIALITIES ARE RELATED TO LYMPHEDEMA

• FAST TRACK SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY RECOGNITION FOR CHILDREN WITH LYMPHEDEMA

• INTERMITTENT PNEUMATIC COMPRESSION (IPC) PUMP DEVICES. SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS POR LYMPHEDEMA

• BEST PRACTICE PROTOCOL GUIDE FOR LYMPHOEDEMA (in Galician)

• A LYMPHEDEMA STORY - DOCTOR KENNETH GERSHENGORN AND THE MAUREEN DIGAN CLINICAL CASE

• WHY IS A BUTTERFLY THE SYMBOL FOR LYMPHEDEMA

• LYMPHEDEMA - INTERNATIONAL DISEASE CODING AND CLASSIFICATION

• WHAT DOES INTERMITTENT PNEUMATIC COMPRESSION PUMP THERAPY (IPC) DO, AND DOES NOT DO FOR LYMPHEDEMA. 

• WHAT IS PHLEBOLYMPHEDEMA.

• IS LYMPHEDEMA PAINFUL?

• WHICH COUNTRY HAS THE BEST LYMPHOEDEMA TREATMENT COVERAGE 

• WHAT IS THE BEST TREATMENT FOR PAEDIATRIC AND PRIMARY LYMPHOEDEMA

• SPANISH LYMPHEDEMA ASSOCIATIONS – SPANISH NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LYMPHEDEMA ASSOCIATIONS

LYMPHEDEMA INCIDENCE 
AND PREVALENCE
(click on the texts) 

CAMPAIGN 

For global awareness, it is being asked that the 

WHO - WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, 

name: 

"LYMPHEDEMA - AWARENESS & CURES"

as the World Health Day campaign 

  

  KATHY BATES

LYMPHEDEMA AMBASSADOR

SIGN THE PETITION HERE