<p>Even if around 180 million people suffer from lymphoedema worldwide (Casley-Smith et al, 1997), its impact as a public health problem is underestimated. The main reason for this being the lack of epidemiology. Both in developed and developing countries, the prevalence and incidence of lymphoedema is unknown. In developing countries, lymphatic filariasis (LF) is seen as the major cause of lymphoedema. The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) highlights the problem of lymphoedema at the international level, estimating that 16 million people suffer from lymphoedema due to LF.</p>
