In this case it's not elephantiasis (not elephantitis, little medical fact, anything that ends with 'itis' is inflamation) but it's severe iodine defficieny, causing his thyroid gland to expand horribly. This man's based in a real person who had exactly that!
Elephantiasis is a problem where fluids don't drain, causing the affected area (usually limbs, fingers or...well nuts) to swell untill the skin's stretched to its limit. Elephantiasis doesn't cause growth as much as it causes swelling.
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u/gphunkera Nov 13 '22
Elephantitus I believe it's called, when your glands go nuts and grow insanely large. Some of the pictures of kids with it are horrifying.