Elephantiasis: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Call emergency services for difficulty breathing, chest pain, fainting, confusion, or severe illness with rapidly spreading redness.

   These symptoms may indicate a serious infection, blood clot, or another emergency rather than routine elephantiasis.

   Other emergency signs, for anyone

   • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
   • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
   • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
   • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
   • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
   • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
   • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
   • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Seek urgent medical help for:

   • New redness, warmth, tenderness, or rapidly increasing swelling
   • Fever or chills with a swollen limb
   • Pus, a spreading wound, or red streaks
   • Sudden one-sided swelling or pain
   • New severe pain or skin that becomes dusky, cold, or numb
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
3. 3

   Does any of this apply?

   Book an appointment

   Arrange a medical assessment for persistent or increasing swelling, thickened skin, new folds, genital swelling, or repeated skin infections.

   Seek advice if a compression garment no longer fits, wounds are not healing, or swelling limits movement.

   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Elephantiasis. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.