WORLD ELEPHANTIASIS DAY 2022 - Lymphatic Vascular Disease

A DAY FOR VINDICATION, MARCH 12, WORLD ELEPHANTIASIS DAY

Despite effective treatment, lymphedema is still one of the world’s most neglected diseases, and people in many countries are shunned, denied basic human rights, and discriminated against. The burden associated with lymphedema Stage III (elephantiasis) affects the physical, psychological, social, and economic well-being of people, contributing to the cycle of disability, disfigurement (body deformities), and social stigmatization, poverty, and suffering.

World Elephantiasis Day is celebrated during Lymphedema Awareness Month and aims to raise awareness about diseases that affect the Lymphatic Vascular System, and teach people that it is easily treatable today. Lymphedema Stage III (elephantiasis) is not a rare condition, and many people in developing continue to suffer due to a lack of access to basic medical care. Read more information on what is the best treatment option for Lymphedema HERE.

The good news is that established lymphatic dysfunction is treatable. Like most other clinical conditions, diseases of the Circulatory System such as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) in Peripheral Vascular Disease, and Lymphedema (LE) in Lymphatic Vascular Disease, are more easily treated in their earliest stages. The goals of preventive treatment in diseases of the Vascular System, are to reduce the pooling of blood in venous disease, and the pooling of lymph fluid (dermal backflow) in lymphatic disease, thus preventing limb swelling, skin complications, and disease progression. 

Vascular medicine or vascular surgery specialists typically recommend a combination of preventive treatments for people with Venous Insufficiency and Lymphatic Dysfunction. Some of the simple basic daily self-care preventive treatment strategies include avoiding long periods of standing or sitting, exercising regularly, controlling weight, elevating limbs while sitting and lying down, wearing gradient Compression Garments, taking antibiotics as needed to treat skin infections, practicing good hygiene and skin care, and using adequate clothing and footwear

Education and improving access to health services are keys to the successful prevention of Lymphedema Stage III (elephantiasis). The First-line reduction strategy for patients with established lymphedema is Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT). Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) and compression (multilayer low-stretch bandages and gradient Compression Garments) are the cornerstones of therapy. People with lymphoedema need access to continuing care throughout their lives, both to manage the disease and to prevent infections like Cellulitis (Dermatolymphangioadenitis-DLA) and progression to more advanced stages like elephantiasis. Read more information on what country has the best treatment for lymphedema HERE.

Scientific studies highlight the importance and implications of compression therapy in controlling the progression of Lymphoedema. Clinical outcomes on interventions to manage lymphedema, show that simple hygiene-based measures (washing and elevation of limbs, exercise, use of footwear) are necessary, but these alone without compression are not enough to reduce the limb size and volume. Limb and genital Lymphedema should always be treated in their early stages, and not left undertreated till reaching its severe Stage III – elephantiasis. Read more information on what is the best treatment for the Elephantiasis Stage HERE.

With reference to Pediatric lymphedema, it is essential that children diagnosed with lymphatic dysfunction due to filariasis (Lymphatic Filariasis), which is also lymphedema, receive early preventive compression treatment with the first signs, to minimize fluid build-up and prevent later life severe clinical complications, disfigurement, and disability. Recent tests have revealed that LF is first acquired in childhood, often with as many as one-third of children infected before age 5. Prevention and controlling Early warning signs and symptoms are important since there is no cure.

Radical reductive ablative surgery (Charles Procedure), aimed to remove the diseased skin and subcutaneous tissue in Stage elephantiasis, should always be the last option for it is frequently associated with significant blood loss, morbidity, infections, permanent disfigurement, and recurrence of symptoms. Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) is not limited to lymphoedema stages 0 and I, and even late Stage III lymphoedema (elephantiasis) improves greatly with good results in the majority of cases, with correct Compression Therapy and Garments, thus preventing the need for debulking techniques.

Lymphedema is a progressive disease, and early diagnosis and treatment are paramount. Therefore, it is critical to diagnose and treat both mild and early onset cases to halt the progression of this lifelong and often debilitating condition. During World Elephantiasis Day, we seek to increase public understanding of Lymphatic Vascular Diseases and tackle the social stigma and undertreatment attached to this treatable disease.

REFERENCES

(Pinch on the texts to read the following Research Articles)

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

• GERMAN SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY GUIDELINE: Diagnostics and Therapy of Lymphoedema.
• THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF LYMPHOLOGY: Consensus Document.

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

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

• FOCUS ON THE TERM ELEPHANTIASIS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR LYMPHOEDEMA 

• WHAT ARE 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 OPTION FOR ELEPHANTIASIS

• WHY IS ELEPHANTIASIS A FORGOTTEN AND NEGLECTED DISEASE

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

• WHY IS THE WORLD NOT TREATING A TREATABLE DISEASE LIKE LYMPHEDEMA. 

• WHAT IS THE BEST TREATMENT OPTION 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 OF 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 PROVIDES THE BEST LYMPHOEDEMA TREATMENT COVERAGE 

• WHAT IS THE BEST TREATMENT OPTION FOR PAEDIATRIC AND PRIMARY LYMPHOEDEMA

• SPANISH LYMPHEDEMA ASSOCIATIONS – SPANISH NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LYMPHEDEMA ASSOCIATIONS

LYMPHEDEMA INCIDENCE 
AND PREVALENCE
(click on the texts) 

世界の日リンパ浮腫 象皮病 / Welttag Lymphödem Elefantiasis / اليوم العالمي الوذمة اللمفية داء الفيل / ကမ္ဘာ့နေ့ ဆင်ခြေထောက်ရောဂါ / ទិវាពិភពលោក ជំងឺមហារីកកូនកណ្តុរ ជំងឺដំរី / 世界日 淋巴水腫 像皮病 / 세계의 날 림프 부종 상피병 / Verdensdagen Lymfødem Elefantiasis / Världsdagen Lymfödem Elefantiasis / Verdensdag Lymfødem Elefantiasis / Pasaules diena Limfedēma Elefantiāze / Pasaulinė diena Limfedema Dramblys / Maailmapäev Lümfödeem Elevanditõbi / Araw ng mundo Lymphedema Elephantiasis / Maailmanpäivä Lymfaödeema Elefanttiaasi / Journée mondiale Lymphœdème Éléphantiasis / Παγκόσμια ημέρα Λεμφοίδημα Ελεφαντίαση / היום העולמי פילים בצקת לימפה / hari dunia Limfedema Untut / giornata mondiale linfedema elefantiasi / Werelddag Lymfoedeem olifantenziekte / Światowy dzień Obrzęk limfatyczny Słoniowacina / Dia mundial Linfedema Elefantíase / Всемирный день Лимфедема Слоновость / วันโลก Lymphedema เท้าช้าง / dünya günü Lenfödem fil hastalığı / Ngày thế giới Phù bạch huyết Bệnh chân voi