Elephantiasis

Elephantiasis or lymphatic filariasis is an infection which occurs when the parasites causing filarial are transmitted to humans via mosquitoes. This takes place when a mosquito carrying the infectious larvae bites a person and the parasites are deposited on the skin of the person who is infected.  These larvae move to the lymphatic vessels where they grow into adults to form nests inside the human lymphatic system. The infection is usually contracted in the childhood but the symptoms such as the painful disfiguring takes place later in life. An acute episode of this infection can cause temporary disability, however lymphatic filariasis can bring upon permanent disability. Elephantiasis is caused by nematodes of the family Filariodidea.