Dracunculus medinensis
(drah-kunk-you-lus / med-i-nen-sis)
Common Name:
Guinea Worm
Guinea Worm
Adult Worm
Transmission
This parasite is transmitted through the ingestion of an infected copepod (tiny crustacean). This happens when a person drinks water that contains the infected copepod.
Disease
Dracunculiasis
- There are no clinical symptoms until just before the blister forms.
- Once blister starts forming, symptoms include:
- fever, intense itching, asthma attacks, edema, nausea and vomiting
- localized pain and redness
- When the blister ruptures, there is a relief from the symptoms.
- If the worm is broken during extractions then secondary infections or abscesses can occur.
- Occasionally the adult worm does not rupture through the skin and becomes encapsulated and calcified in the subcutaneous tissue.
Diagnostic
Diagnosis is typically made by the clinical manifestations of this parasite. In endemic regions, the lesion is easily recognizable.
Treatment
There has not been much success in treatment of the parasitic infection with drugs. Metronidazole or thiabendazole have helps suppress inflammation and facilitates removal of the worm. The only true way to treat this infection is to remove the adult worm after it ruptures from the blister. The traditional method for removal is to slowly wind the worm around a stick a few centimeters a day.