Clinical Features of Guinea Worm | Parasitology

In this article we will discuss about the clinical features of guinea worm.

The disease caused by Dracunculus medinensis in human is called Dracontiasis or Dracunculiasis:

i. Source of infection:

Infected Cyclops

ii. Infecting agent:

Larva

iii. Portal of entry:

Alimentary canal, gaining entrance along with drinking water.

iv. Site of location:

Subcutaneous tissues, generally in such a part of body which reg­ularly comes in contact with cold water like hands, legs, feet etc.

v. Incubation period:

Varies from 10-12 months.

Pathogenic Effects:

This is not a lethal dis­ease, it is a serious problem in endemic countries with substantial adverse effects on health, educa­tion and agriculture. Blister formation and the ulcer may coincide with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fainting, asthma etc. The symptoms strongly sug­gest an allergic reaction and Eosinophilia is marked.

Later symptoms result from secondary inva­sion of the ulcer by bacteria. The local practice in India has been done to remove the worm by gen­tly rolling the worm daily around a small stick and slowly pulling it out of the skin.

The worms are usually mechanically extracted and, being elastic are likely to break. The broken end of the worm draws back, carrying with it into its con­nective tissue sheath various bacteria which form abscesses. These may cause severe infection and may even lead to fatal blood poisoning.