Shawn Johnson, age 13, of Erie, Penn., for his question:

IS THERE A CURE FOR ELEPHANTIASIS?

Elephantiasis is a skin disease that is most common in the tropics. It gets its name because the affected skin becomes rough like the hide of an elephant. Doctors tell us there is no known cure for elephantiasis, but drugs and surgery may give relief. A tiny worm usually cuases the disease. Mosquitos carry the worm. When the mosquito bites,the worm enters the body and becomes lodged in the lymph vessels.

A less common form of elephantiasis is caused by the streptococcus bacterium.

Fortunately, elephantiasis isn't much of a problem to people living in North America.

The disease is characterized by fever, roughening of the skin and swelling of a part of the body, often the leg. There usually is a series of attacks, each increasing the swelling of the affected part. The part finally becomes permanently enlarged.