| Specialty: | dermatology |
Elephantiasis nostras is a disease that usually affects the lower legs or scrotum.[1] Swelling is accompanied by rough nodules or wart-like plaques on the skin. If the disease is not treated, it eventually results in pain and immobility.[2]
The disease can be described as a cutaneous condition, a final hypertrophic fibrosis following long standing chronic lymphangitis.[3]
Although elephantiasis nostras resembles the elephantiasis caused by helminths, it is not a filarial disease. Instead, it is a complication of chronic lymphedema.[1] Both elephantiasis nostras and filarial elephantiasis are characterized by impaired lymphatic drainage, which results in excess fluid accumulation.[2]
Treatment consists of antibiotics, elevation of the affected limb, and compression. For persons with elephantiasis nostras who are overweight or obese, weight loss is recommended.[2] Oral retinoids have been used to treat the cutaneous manifestations of the disease.[1]