Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm infestation) clinical features and management

Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm infestation) clinical features and management

Dracunculus medinensis, the Guinea worm, is a tissue nematode widely distributed through Africa and Asia.Humans are infected by drinking water containing minutec rustaceans of the Cyclops genus infected with Guineaworm larvae. The larvae penetrate gut tissues and migratethrough host tissues, maturing to the adult stage. Thefemale is fertilized by the male, which dies, and the gravidfemale migrates out into a limb, producing a painful,fluid-filled blister about 3cm across which then burstsand about 5 cm of the female protrudes.Vast numbersof larvae are released from the worm. Patients often putthe affected limb into cold water to relieve the pain; thisstimulates the discharge of larvae, providing the opportunityfor larvae to continue the lifecycle by infecting othercyclops. The diagnosis is made on the clinical appearances.Treatment comprises relief of pain, treatment of secondarybacterial infection with antibiotics, and administration oftiabendazole.This does not have any direct effect on the worm butreduces inflammation around it, allowing it to be gentlywound out of the subcutaneous tissues on a stick.Dracunculus medinensis, the Guinea worm, is a tissuenematode widely distributed through Africa and Asia.Humans are infected by drinking water containing minutecrustaceans of the Cyclops genus infected with Guineaworm larvae.

wound out of the subcutaneous tissues on a stick. Control of Guinea worm is a realistic prospect using verysimple methods. Cyclops can be filtered from drinkingwater using simple filters with nylon mesh of appropriatepore size. These can be made locally from materials thatcan be supplied by Ministries of Health. Village communitiescan all be involved in disseminating information aboutthe disease, making the filters, and how to avoid disease bysimple water filtration.

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