Lymphedema can be divided into 2 major groups:
Elephantiasis bzw. Elefantiasis (from Greek ελεφαντ?ασις, or Elephantman-syndrome, as in "elephant likeness" from ? ?λ?φας, „the elephant“), is an abnormal enlargement of a body part due to lyphostasis. In most cases, legs or external genitalia are affected. This disease is common in developing countries above all.It occurs as Elephantiasis tropica predominantly in tropical regions and here is a late consequence of different infections such as nematodes like Brugia malayi (also called Wuchereria malayi or Filaria malayi) or Wuchereria bancrofti, and leprosy. The nematodes access the lyphatic system via common mosquito bite or the bite of another mosquito species. There, they cause a chronic inflammatory response with lymphostasis which gradually leads to an enourmous enlargement and induration of the skin.
DE: Elephantiasis (Lymphödem) der Beine durch Filariose. Luzon, Philippinen. FR: Elephantiasis des jambes due au ver IT: Elefantiasi degli arti inferiori-filariasi linfatica NL: Elephantiasis door filariasisSource: PD-USGov-HHS-CDC / wikipedia