A medical question
My friend Mbatilo has a problem. His leg has been badly swollen for five years. He was treated, but the leg remains swollen, causing much pain. Return visits to doctors have not helped, and he has tried traditional medicine with no results.
This is a culture where the "why" of illnesses is more important than the "what". Anyone want to help me understand why his leg is like this? I doubt there is any treatment available for this here, but explaining to him why his leg is like this would help him greatly.
Any ideas?
My friend Mbatilo has a problem. His leg has been badly swollen for five years. He was treated, but the leg remains swollen, causing much pain. Return visits to doctors have not helped, and he has tried traditional medicine with no results.
This is a culture where the "why" of illnesses is more important than the "what". Anyone want to help me understand why his leg is like this? I doubt there is any treatment available for this here, but explaining to him why his leg is like this would help him greatly.
Any ideas?
posted by Kevin at 9:22 AM
3 Comments:
Kevin,
I am not a doctor, (Nor do I play one on TV), but I did know a missionary who got a severe fungal infection in Uganda (likened to athlete's foot.) Her leg became twice its normal size. Even when the infection was gone, there was still swelling.
Also, if it continues to grow, I remember learning in Mexico of conditions similar to elephantitis in which a limb will grow. I once saw a lady whose leg and toes were enormous.
Of course, I have NO IDEA. Mom might.
I know that elderly people often get edema in their legs, but it is only affecting one leg, and sometimes there are issues with varicose veins.
Hopefully, a real doctor will be able to help.
all the best to you--and Mbatilo.
shannon
kevin,
I am not a doctor either, but I do play one on tv. Actually, I am a PA in a Tennessee emergency department, but I do know what your friend has(Christie Harrisson sent me a link to your blog). It is a chronic lymphadema caused, most commonly on the african continent by a filarial infection. It is not uncommon and is "treatable". What I mean is that the infection may be cleared, but the blockage of the lymphatic channels remains (permanently). If your friend has never been treated for it and his "swelling" is progressive then write me back and I will advise you on what kind of therapy he needs to seek. However, I would imagine that he has in fact been treated and that he is merely dealing with the discomfort of the lymphadema. If you wish for more info on this, I have pulled the article off of Wikipedia for you and pasted it here:
Elephantiasis /ˌɛləfənˈtaɪəsɪs, -fæn-/ [el-uh-fuhn-tahy-uh-sis, -fan-] is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs and genitals. ("Elephantitis" is a common mis-hearing or mis-remembering of the term, from confusing the ending -iasis -- process or resulting condition -- with the more commonly heard -itis -- irritation or inflammation.) Its proper medical name is "neurofibrome".
Contents [hide]
1 Causes
2 Treatment
3 References
4 External links
[edit]Causes
Elephantiasis generally results from obstructions of the lymphatic vessels. It is most commonly caused by a parasitic disease known as lymphatic filariasis.
Alternatively, elephantiasis may occur in the absence of parasitic infection. This nonparasitic form of elephantiasis, known as nonfilarial elephantiasis or podoconiosis, generally occurs in the mountains of central Africa. Nonfilarial elephantiasis is thought to be caused by persistent contact with volcanic ash.
[edit]Treatment
The current first-line treatment of lymphatic filariasis is diethylcarbamazine. Medicines to treat lymphatic filariasis are most effective when used soon after infection, but they do have some toxic side effects. In addition, the disease is difficult to detect early.
Another form of effective treatment involves rigorous cleaning of the affected areas of the body. Several studies have shown that these daily cleaning routines can be an effective way to limit the symptoms of lymphatic filariasis. The efficacy of these treatments suggests that many of the symptoms of elephantiasis are not directly a result of the lymphatic filariasis but rather the effect of secondary skin infections.
Also, surgical treatment may be helpful for issues related to scrotal elephantiasis and hydrocele. However, surgery is generally ineffective at correcting elephantiasis of the]] content of Brugia malayi - the worm which cause elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis). Figuring out the content of the genes might lead to development of new drugs and vaccines.[1]
[edit]
Hope this helps.
J. Luke Boren PA-C
jlboren@charter.net
Luke,
We have heard a lot about you... great to hear from you!
I explained to Mbatilo what his problem was. Although he wanted better news, it was a final answer that will save him much money and time seeking our medical care (an overwhelmed medical system like ours rarely has time to explain... just prescribe some medicine and send him away!).
I told him that I showed a doctor the pictures, and after sharing your diagnosis/prognosis, he asked when you were coming (assuming you were in Mwanza somewhere). I think explaining internet was harder than elephatiasis!
Peace.
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