How is Podoconiosis treated?
Table of Contents
How is Podoconiosis treated?
Treatment includes daily foot hygiene with soap, water, and antiseptics, emollients to restore skin function, leg elevation, exercise, use of socks and shoes, and, if necessary, compression bandages and surgical removal of nodules.
What is the difference between elephantiasis and Podoconiosis?
Podoconiosis, also known as nonfilarial elephantiasis, is a disease of the lymphatic vessels of the lower extremities that is caused by chronic exposure to irritant soils.
What causes Podoconiosis?
Podoconiosis is a chronic inflammatory, geochemical skin disease caused by prolonged exposure to irritant red clay soils derived from volcanic rocks [2] and causes bilateral asymmetrical swelling of the lower legs. Podoconiosis is a neglected disease, although currently it does not appear on the WHO list of NTDs.
How can podoconiosis be prevented?
Patients who believed that podoconiosis could be prevented mentioned the following methods of prevention: wearing shoes (82.1%), washing feet (19.1%), avoiding contact with an affected person (3.6%), and avoiding marriage to podoconiosis patients (1.3%).
What is the mode of transmission of podoconiosis?
Podoconiosis is a geochemical (non-filarial) elephantiasis thought to be caused by the absorption of ultrafine mineral particles from the soil through the skin of the feet [4], [5].
What is mossy foot disease?
Mossy foot disease (known technically as podoconiosis) is caused by walking barefoot in the local volcanic soil, and results in massive swelling of the feet and legs, with pain and bad odors. Individuals with the disease, like this man to the left, are shunned like lepers.
What is occult filariasis?
Occult filariasis denotes filarial infection in which microfilariae are not observed in the blood but may be found in other body fluids and/or tissues.
What is the best treatment of elephantiasis?
Your doctor may give you one called diethylcarbamazine (DEC). You’ll take it once a year. It will kill the microscopic worms in your bloodstream. Another way to treat elephantiasis is to use DEC in combination with a medicine called ivermectin.
Is elephantiasis curable?
Lymphatic filariasis, also called elephantiasis tropica, is one of the world’s leading causes of permanent and long-term disability. The disease can’t be cured, although recent studies show tetracycline-based antibiotics could be helpful, particularly in the early stages.
How is elephantiasis prevented?
Prevention may be possible by:
- avoiding mosquitoes or taking precautions to reduce your risk for mosquito bites.
- getting rid of mosquito breeding areas.
- using mosquito nets.
- wearing insect repellents.
- wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants in areas with a lot of mosquitoes.
What is the meaning of Podoconiosis?
Podoconiosis is a form of elephantiasis arising in barefoot subsistence farmers who are in long-term contact with irritant red clay soil of volcanic origins.
What is the difference between filariasis and elephantiasis?
Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease. Infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. Infection is usually acquired in childhood causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system.
Is elephantiasis completely curable?
Is elephantiasis reversible?
Treated in its early stages, the swelling of elephantiasis can often be reversed. Once it has become extreme, it can’t be. Further enlargement — and painful, feverish exacerbations — can be prevented by keeping the leg clean and elevated.
Is elephantiasis found in India?
Generally, the most common clinical form of the disease is hydrocele, with lymphoedema and elephantiasis occurs less commonly. In India and neighbouring countries, both hydrocele and lymphoedema are common.
