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Elephantiasis
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{{distinguish|Lymphatic filariasis}}{{short description|Enlargement and hardening of body parts due to swelling}} {{Infobox medical condition (new) | name = Elephantiasis | synonyms = | image = Gould Pyle 275.jpg | alt = | caption = Elephantiasis of the legs due to filariasis. | pronounce = | field = [[Infectious disease (medical specialty)|Infectious disease]], [[general surgery]] | symptoms = Swelling of the skin | complications = | onset = | duration = | types = | causes = | risks = | diagnosis = | differential = | prevention = | treatment = | medication = | prognosis = | frequency = | deaths = }} '''Elephantiasis''', often incorrectly called '''elephantitis''', is the enlargement and hardening of limbs or body parts due to tissue swelling ([[edema]]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elephantiasis|title=Definition of ELEPHANTIASIS|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-28}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Citation|title=elephantiasis|url=https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/elephantiasis|work=The Free Dictionary|access-date=2018-06-28}}</ref> It is characterised by edema, [[hypertrophy]], and [[fibrosis]] of skin and subcutaneous tissues, due to obstruction of [[lymphatic vessels]] ([[lymphedema]]).<ref name=":1" /> It may affect the genitalia.<ref name=":1" /> The term elephantiasis is often used in reference to symptoms caused by parasitic worm infections,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> but may refer to a variety of diseases that swell parts of the subject's body to exceptionally massive proportions.<ref name=":1" /> __TOC__
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