Neglected
diseases like Lymphedema stand in stark contrast to other chronic
diseases like diabetes, which receive the life-long drug treatments
they need. Severe complications due to lack of access to therapy and compression garments, lead to more chances of progressing to cellulitis, or life-threatening complications such as lymphangiosarcoma, or sepsis due to resistance to antibiotics.
Across
the world people suffer from neglected diseases, conditions that
prevail in many countries lacking good health care services, and
medical resources. Diseases like Lymphedema typically do not kill
immediately, but instead it slowly becomes disabling, leading to
terrible suffering, creating losses of capital, worker productivity,
and economic growth. Advanced lymphedema or elefantiasis, is
characterised by fibrosis and fatty induration of the tissues, which
become much more difficult to reduce than in early stages, where the
swelling is more characteristically due to protein rich fluid. So to
reduce limb volume, more intervention is required at an earlier
stage, much more than is currently indicated by some international
organizations. For information on why the world is not treating
elephantiasis:
With regard to filarial lymphedema (Lymphatic Filariasis), it is very important that at the present moment and by means of drugs, that there is a goal and campaigns of eliminating filariasis, to prevent the next generations of people being infected. But there should also be a goal and campaigns, for the treatment of the present generations, who are already affected and suffering, from the consequent established lymphostatic oedema. The same happens with lymphedema due to Podoconiosis (lymphatic podoconiosis), which also needs reduction treatment and compression garments, in order to control its progression. Lymphatic edema without treatment or inadequately treated, are more likely to develop very serious or even lethal complications, such as erysipelas, adenolymphangitis, dermatolymphangioadenitis - DLA (cellulitis), necrotizing fasciitis, septicemia (sepsis), lymphangiosarcoma, etc. Elephantiasis will never be eradicated from the world, whilst there are still people that don't have access to good and specialized treatment options for lymphedema, whatever its cause.
For information on what is the
bet treatment for lymphedema:
Lymphedema
is universally recognized as a neglected and severely debilitating
disease, even though it already has effective treatments. In spite of
this, many national health services, even in modern and
industrialized countries, allocate little or nothing to treating and
preventing Lymphedema, in contrast to the full coverage given
to
other chronic diseases.
No
drug or surgical
procedure
exists that
can permanently cure Lymphedema, but this
is not an excuse
for not funding
public health treatments.
Funding physical therapy and compression garments, could help in the
final push for the eradication of elephantiasis (Stage-4-lymphedema).
Primary
and Secondary lymphedema collectively, affect millions of people
across the world, most in the poorest areas of the poorest countries.
All lymphedema whatever the cause, can drift towards severe
deformity, leading to increased disability in men, women, infants and
children of all ages. Furthermore, inflammation and infections in
young people, leading to absences from school, reduced future quality
of life, and
labour productivity. However, lymphedema
can be successfully
treated, what’s more, preventing its progression and
complications in
the first place, is completely achievable through increased
awareness, and early-stage preventive treatment programs.
To
see the best
treatment resaults for Stage 4 lymphedema/Elephantiasis (click on the
following text): Successful
treatment of elephantiasis
The
U.S. spends over $8,000 per person per year on health expenditures,
in comparison, the minimum yearly needs of most
lymphedem patients are two weeks intensive physical therapy, and 2 compression garments.
This opens the door to a critique, on the disparities in
health resources which are dedicated to lymphedema. Even so, the
medical/ethical excuse used by some national health services and
international organizations, is that even though Gold Standard
Conservative treatment is safe and effective, it is expensive,
time-consuming and needs certified therapists. Without drastic
increases in funding and medical, public and political awareness, the
plight of people affected by lymphedema is unlikely to budge anytime soon.
Less
than 20 percent of the world’s population lives in some of the most
developed and economically high-functioning countries, and nearly 90
percent of the world’s total financial resources, are devoted to
the citizens of these nations. This situation does not reflect the
reality, of patients suffering from lymphedema in these countries,
since most of them are untreated or undertreated. Many High-tech
counties are implementing cheap, modified and simple versions of
treatment, so as not to fund good treatment. For more information on the simple and modiried treatments:
The worst situation for access to
treatment is for the low-income countries, where national health
services and policies are doing little to nothing about it.
Conversely, some global health experts estimate that for every dollar
spent on neglected disease control, we get back over $50 in increased
productivity. By increasing awareness and funding of treatments for
neglected diseases, the world economies will be making one of the
best global investments possible.
Reference:
Cost of a lymphedema treatment mandate-10 years of experience in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Complete Decongestive Therapy Treatment for lymphedema and its relationship with Patients Psychological and Physical characteristics:
The Psycho-Social Impact of Lymphedema
Effective treatment of lymphedema of the extremities.
Conservative treatment of lymphoedema of the limbs.
The physical treatment of upper limb edema.
Lymphatic drainage of the upper limb. Substitution lymphatic pathways
Phlebolymphedema–A Common Underdiagnosed and Undertreated Problem in the Wound Care Clinic
Why aren’t we curing the world’s most curable diseases?
Articles which may also interest you:
(Click on the texts)
(Click on the texts)
- WHAT KIND OF DOCTOR TREATS LYMPHEDEMA/LYMPHOEDEMA - WHAT TYPE OF DOCTOR IS SPECIALIZED IN LYMPHATIC DYSFUNCTION - WHICH MEDICAL SPECIALITIES ARE RELATED TO LYMPHEDEMA
PINCH TO SEE
LYHMPHEDEMA
INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE
PINCH TO SEE
LYHMPHEDEMA
INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE
CAMPAIGN
For global awareness it is being asked that the
WHO - WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION,
name:
"LYMPHEDEMA - AWARENESS & CURES"
as its World Health Day campaign - 2018
KATHY BATES
LYMPHEDEMA EMBASSADOR
