A member asked:

Is elephantiasis contagious?

7 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Latisha Smith answered

Specializes in Wound care

Not at all: Elephantiasis is the common name for stage iii lymphedema, an advanced stage of swelling of limb. Consists hardening and deformity of the skin. It is caused by congenital malformation of the limb, injury to the lymphatics from surgery or radiation therapy, and from parasitic obstruction of lymphatic vessels. Parasites enter body from contaminated water, and are not passed from person to person.

Answered 2/13/2019

6.2k views

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Dr. Vasu Brown answered

Specializes in Integrative Medicine

No: It is not - looks scary but is not contagious - caused by musquito bite which injects parasitic worms - filaria such as wucheria bacrofti, brugia malayi, b. Timori - causing inflammation of lymphatic vessel, skin thickening, due to lymph flow obstruction.

Answered 2/13/2019

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