What is dracunculiasis?

Dracunculiasis or Guinea Worm Disease (GWD) is a rare but serious disease that results from contamination with a specific parasite worm. This parasite, Dracunculus Medinensis, is found in only a few African countries, and the disease can only be repaired when people drink stagnant waters, such as ponds that are contaminated with worm larvae. As soon as Dracunculiasis was more widespread and in Africa, millions of people hit per year, but the persistent education of organizations such as the World Health Organization has significantly reduced these figures. Today, less than 20,000 people get GWD a year, but world health groups are still interested in complete eradication of the disease.

Dracunculiasis symptoms are part of the problem when getting rid of the disease. People drink contaminated water and have no symptoms up to a year later, when a large worm has grown in their intestines. At some point, the worm migrates on the leg or leg bursts through the skin. They form a painful blister or ulceration as well as the worm and someRome people have an accompanying fever.

The worm has a length of about two to three feet (60,96-91,44 cm). It cannot simply be removed by pulling by a single pull. Removal often takes weeks, which is very painful if there is no access to surgical treatment.

In addition to gain some relief, many people head to the water source and soak the leg or foot, which adjusts the vicious cycle. Whenever the worm is in the water, it stores its larvae. The whole offer can be quickly contaminated and those who drink contaminated water are also very at risk of obtaining dracunculiasis.

In addition to creating a cycle of infection, dracunculiasis can cause serious problems in the areas of the world where access to medical care is limited. Lesions where worms appear and may not be a way to gain access to antibiotics. Some joint or tissue damage may also result from the migration of the worm. With medical assistance canBeing a surgery to remove the worm, but before that there is no treatment and most people do not receive any form of treatment.

Due to the complex nature of dracunculiasis, medical treatment methods focus on preventing and teaching people about how to ensure safe water supply or how to choose safe drinking spots. People are encouraged to cook or filter water or use chemicals that can kill larvae. They are discouraged from drinking from open ponds and water supplies that are underground and are not in contact with people for activities such as swimming or washing are preferred.

currently there are only five countries where dracunculiasis seems to be a problem. These are Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Ghana and Sudan. It is encouraging that the cases have reduced frequencies. Nevertheless, it is important to realize that GWDs are used in poverty, directly related to the fact that people in these countries do not have access to safe water supply.