Guinea Worm Disease

By Raphael Valdivia

Ever wonder about those worms that are able to pierce through the skin and are able to visibly be seen with the naked eye? Guinea worm disease also classified as dracunculiasis, is caused by a nematode roundworm called Dracunculus medenisis. These worms are acquired through drinking contaminated water that is at a standstill. This water contains water fleas which are referred to as copepods which contain the Guinea worm larvae in an ineffective stage. Once this larva is inside the abdomen of a host the gastric juices digest the water flea and the male and female larvae are released. They mature and mate with some growing as much as 3 feet in length about 3 weeks after an individual is infected! After mating the male will eventually die off and the female will then proceed to move to connective tissues more commonly found in longer bones in extremities. Upon a year of the infection blisters form and are usually located on the leg, this is the sight of rupture where the worm can be seen causing a symptom associated with a burning feeling of the local area. It takes around 10 days for the whole worm to exit the host and the individual cannot walk if it is on the leg or foot. Removing this worm is tricky and can be dangerous if the worm gets agitated. Usually people take a risk of wrapping the worm around a stick and pulling the worm every other day until the worm is able to be pulled out. The problem is when the worm resists this procedure, it can pull back inside of the body and calcify cutting the hosts blood supply or even causing paralysis.  The only way to alleviate the sensation of burning is by placing the location of the blister under water and this is the primary way of further contaminating a water supply because the female release millions of eggs under this condition. The cycle further continues because water fleas of copepods eat these worms followed by humans drinking the water associated with infected water fleas.

http://cartercenter.org/health/guinea_worm/mini_site/facts.html

There are several simple and effective ways that waterborne diseases can be controlled such as keeping the public, sewage, and rain water separated. The flow of stagnant water should always be in constant motion to keep water from becoming sessile and accumulating various types of agents that can cause disease. Land should be checked periodically for any sources of contaminants such as fuel or oil spills, along with highly populated areas where abandoned buildings and rodents might be present. Cities with high density populations are especially susceptible to parasitic diseases and should be highly monitored.

The good news is that this disease is on the verge of eradication, the carter center began its aid in 1986 partnering with the international Guinea worm disease eradication campaign, the Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization. Due to simple and effective procedures to help get rid of this disease these organizations have dropped the number of cases from 3.5 million in 1986 to under 5,000 cases worldwide with Africa containing the most cases due to elevated poverty.

Facts to keep in mind!

1.     Guinea worm disease is also known as Dracunculiasis caused by Dracunculus medinensis which is a nematode roundworm.

2.     The guinea worm has the capacity to grow up to 3 feet long!

3.     Guinea worm ulcers that are put under water cause the female to release thousands of eggs further contaminating a water supply.

4.     Symptoms only occur a year after a person is infected! A rather long process if you ask me, and to add to this most of the time ulcers will develop on the leg

5.     Symptoms that include fever, pain, and swelling can occur hours before the worm leaves the ulcer

6.     No medication! There is no type of medicine available to kill the worm or hinder its parasitic process. The only way to eliminate the worm is through surgical removal or by wrapping the worm around a stick and slowly pulling on it. This process is lengthy and can take as much as 3 months to remove the worm depending on length.

7.     This disease does not kill but will suppress daily activities due a weak immune system and cause lethargic behavior.

8.     The disease has been highly eliminated from 3.5 million cases in 1986 to fewer than 5,000 cases throughout the world